Template-fixed peptidomimetics

ABSTRACT

Template-fixed β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the general formula (I) wherein Z is a template-fixed chain of 4 α-amino acid residues which, depending on their positions in the chain (counted starting from the N-terminal amino acid) are Gly, or of certain types which, as the remaining symbols in the above formula, are defined in the description and the claims, and salts thereof, have the property to agonize or to antagonize GPCR receptors such as CXCR3, urotensin and CCR10. They can be used as medicaments to treat or prevent diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, dermatological disorders, endocrine system and hormone disorders, metabolic diseases, inflammatory diseases, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases, haematological diseases and cancer. These β-hairpin peptidomimetics can be manufactured by a process which is based on a mixed solid- and solution phase synthetic strategy.

The present invention provides template-fixed β-hairpin peptidomimetics incorporating a template-fixed chain of 4 α-amino acid residues which, depending on their positions in the chain, are Gly or Pro or of certain types, as defined herein below. These template-fixed β-hairpin mimetics have an agonizing or antagonizing activity against G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR's), particularly the urotensin, CXCR3 and the CCR10 receptor and show high selectivity against certain GPCR receptors. In addition, the present invention provides an efficient synthetic process by which these compounds can, if desired, be made in parallel library-format.

Many medically significant biological processes are mediated by signal transduction that involves GPCR's. The family of GPCRs include receptors for hormones, neurotransmitters growth factors and viruses (Th. Klabunde, G. Hessler, ChemBioChem 2002, 3, 928-44). Whereas for an additional 230 receptors the natural ligand is known, another 160, so-called orphan receptors, have been identified within the human genome, for which the (patho)physiological function is unknown (A. Wise, K. Gearing, S. Rees, Drug Discovery Today, 2002, 7, 235-46).

The GPCR's can be grouped into three major families: family A (rhodopsin-like or adrenergic-like family), family B (glucagon-receptor-like or secretin-receptor-like family), and family C (metabotropic glutamate receptors). Within each receptor family a certain sequence pattern (so-called fingerprint) and several structural features beyond the generally shared membrane topology are conserved (T. K. Attwood, Trends Pharmacol. Sci 2001, 22, 165-65). Family A is by far the largest class. GPCR's are membrane-bound, and characterized by a conserved seven helix transmembrane-spanning domain. Recently, the 3D structure of bovine rhodopsin by X-ray crystallography was reported (K. Palczewsky et al. Science 2000, 289, 739-45) as the first GPCR structure at atomic resolution. Based on this structure several models for other GPCR's have been reported using homology modeling (M. C. Gershengorn et al. Endocrinology 2001, 142, 2-10; S. Shacham et al. Med. Res. Rev. 2001, 21, 472-83).

Although over the past 15 years, nearly 350 therapeutic agents targeting GPCR receptors have been successfully introduced into the market (Th. Klabunde, G. Hessler, ChemBioChem 2002, 3, 928-44; G. Vauquelin et al. Fundam. Clin. Pharmacol. 2005, 19, 45-56), several toxicological problems which arose from mainly lack of selectivity of some of those drugs, need to be further investigated. Clearly there is a need for new selective compounds for treating or preventing diseases including, but not limited to, infections, cancers, allergies, cardiovascular and peripheral and central nervous system disorder.

The present invention describes a novel general approach to discover potent, selective and drugable ligands having agonizing or antagonizing activity against GPCR receptors. Within the scope of the present invention, this approach is particularly suited to discover ligands for peptidergic and protein-liganded GPCR's. Some of the peptidergic GPCR ligands/receptors that are of therapeutic relevance are:

Somatostatins (A. V. Schally et al. Cell. Mol. Life. Sci. 2004, 61, 1042-68), neurokinins, neurotensins (W. Rostene et al. Encyclop. Biol. Chem. 2004, 3, 3236; M. Boules et al. Expert. Opin. Investig. Drugs 2005, 14, 359-69; P. Kitabgi, Curr. Opin. Drug Disc. Devel. 2002, 5, 764-76), bradykinins (F. Marceau et al. Nat. Rev. Drug Disc. 2004, 3, 845-52), vasopressins (M. Ashton et al. Comb. Chem. And High Throughput Screening 2004, 7, 441-53), tachykinins, bombesins (E. R. Spindel et al. Recent Progress in Hormone Research 1993, 48, 365-91; R. T. Jensen et al. Growth Factors, Peptides, and Receptors, p. 225-237, Ed. By T. W. Moody, Plenum Press, New York, 1993; A. V. Schally et al. Cell. Mol. Life. Sci. 2004, 61, 1042-68), endothelins (G. Ertl et al. Drugs 2004, 64, 1029-40), urotensin II (F. D. Russell, Pharmacol. Ther. 2004, 103, 223-43), GH-RH (A. V. Schally et al. Cell. Mol. Life. Sci. 2004, 61, 1042-68), ghrelin (A. V. Schally et al. Cell. Mol. Life. Sci. 2004, 61, 1042-68; E. Ghio et al. Clin. Endocrinol. 2005, 62, 1-17), melanocortins (B. G. Irani et al. Curr. Pharm. Des. 2004, 10, 3443-79), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1, C. J. Small et al. Curr. Drug Targets CNS Neurol. Disord. 2004, 3, 379-88), peptide YY (PYY, C. J. Small et al. Curr. Drug Targets CNS Neurol. Disord. 2004, 3, 379-88), VIP (A. V. Schally et al. Cell. Mol. Life. Sci. 2004, 61, 1042-68), and protease-activated receptors 1 and 2 (PAR-1 and 2, H. G. Selnick et al. Curr. Med. Chem. Cardiovasc. Hematol. Agents 2003, 1, 47-59; V. S. Ossovskaya et al. Physiol. Rev. 2004, 84, 579-621; A. M. Coelho et al. Curr. Med. Chem. Cardiovasc. Hematol. Agents 2003, 1, 61-72; M. Steinhoff et al. Endocrin. Rev. 2005, 26, 1-43).

Among the proteinogenic GPCR ligands the therapeutically important family of roughly 60 chemokines (L. Bendall, Histol. Histopathol. 2005, 20, 907-26; Moser et al.) can be mentioned (e.g. CXCL-1, CXCL-2, CXCL-5, CXCL-8, CXCL-12).

In the compounds described below, a new strategy is introduced to stabilize β-hairpin conformations in backbone-cyclic β peptide mimetics exhibiting selective agonizing or antagonizing activity against G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR's), particularly the urotensin, CXCR3 and the CCR10 receptor. This involves transplanting key hairpin sequence onto a template, whose function is to restrain the peptide loop backbone into a hairpin geometry.

Template-bound hairpin mimetic peptides have been described in the literature (D, Obrecht, M. Altorfer, J. A. Robinson, Adv. Med. Chem. 1999, 4, 1-68; J. A. Robinson, Syn. Lett. 2000, 4, 429-441), but such molecules have not previously been evaluated or disclosed for development of antagonizing or agonizing activity against G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR's), particularly the urotensin, CXCR3 and the CCR10 receptor. However, the ability to generate β-hairpin peptidomimetics using combinatorial and parallel synthesis methods has now been established (L. Jiang, K. Moehle, B. Dhanapal, D. Obrecht, J. A. Robinson, Helv. Chim. Acta. 2000, 83, 3097-3112). These methods allow the synthesis and screening of large hairpin mimetic libraries, which in turn considerably facilitates structure-activity studies, and hence the discovery of new molecules with potent selective agonizing or antagonizing activity.

β-Hairpin peptidomimetics obtained by the approach described here are useful as anticancer agents or anti inflammatory agents or for treating or preventing cardiovascular and peripheral and central nervous system disorder.

The β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the present invention are compounds of the general formula

wherein

is a group of one of the formulae

is a group of one of the formulae

B is the enantiomer of one of the groups A1 to A69 as shown hereinabove,

-   R¹ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R² is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R³ is H; Cl; F; CF₃; CN; NO₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl;     aryl-lower alkyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁶R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COR⁵⁶; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁴ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁵ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶;     —(CH₂)_(q)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(q)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(q)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(q)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁶ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁷ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁸ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁹ is alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R¹⁰ is lower alkyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁶²; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; or -   R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together can form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;     —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; -   R¹¹ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; -   R¹² is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     -   —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R¹³ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     -   —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R¹⁴ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     -   —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R¹⁵ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; (CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵¹R⁵²;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R¹⁶ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     -   —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵¹R⁵²;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R¹⁷ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R¹⁸ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(q)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R¹⁹ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(q)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; or -   R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ taken together can form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(r)—; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(r)—; or     —(CH₂)_(r)NR⁵⁷(CH₂)_(r)—; -   R²⁰ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     -   —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;         —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R²¹ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁹R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R²² is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl, or aryl-lower alkyl; -   R²³ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²⁴R⁵⁵; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)₅CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R²⁴ is H; lower alkyl; aryl, or aryl-lower alkyl; or -   R²³ and R²⁴ taken together can form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O—(CH₂)₂—;     —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁵⁷(CH₂)₂—; -   R²⁵ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R²⁶ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R²⁷ is H; F; Br; Cl; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower alkyl;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)₅OR⁴⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R²⁸ is H; F; Br; Cl; NO₂; CF₃; CN; alkyl; alkenyl; OCF₃; OCHF₂;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R²⁹ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; -   R³⁰ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; -   R³¹ is H; F; Br; Cl; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; alkyl; alkenyl;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R³² is H; F; Br; Cl; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; alkyl; alkenyl;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)₅OR⁴⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)₅R⁶⁹; -   R³³ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁶³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R³⁴ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(p)R⁶⁹; -   R³⁵ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁶³)_(p)R⁶⁹; -   R³⁶ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(p)R⁶⁹; -   R³⁷ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(p)R⁶⁹; -   R³⁸ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(p)R⁶⁹; -   R³⁹ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁶³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(p)R⁶⁹; -   R⁴⁰ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁶³)_(p)R⁶⁹; -   R⁴¹ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(p)R⁶⁹; -   R⁴² is lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; -   R⁴³ is H; lower alkyl; aryl; lower alkenyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; -   R⁴⁴ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁴⁵ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁶³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁴⁰R⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵¹R⁵²; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁴⁶ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CHR⁵³)_(s)SOR⁵⁴; or —(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁴⁷ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl-lower alkyl;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁴⁸ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl-lower alkyl;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; or     —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; -   R⁴⁹ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl lower alkyl; or     heteroaryl lower alkyl; -   R⁵⁰ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aryl-lower     alkyl; or heteroaryl-lower alkyl; -   R⁵¹ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aryl-lower     alkyl; or heteroaryl-lower alkyl; or -   R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together can form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;     —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; -   R⁵² is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; or aryl-lower alkyl; -   R⁵³ is H, alkyl; alkenyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aryl-lower alkyl;     heteroaryl-lower alkyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷;     -   —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;         —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁶R⁵¹; or         —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂; -   R⁵⁴ is lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl, heteroaryl; or aryl-lower     alkyl; -   R⁵⁵ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl, heteroaryl; aryl-lower     alkyl; heteroaryl-lower alkyl;     -   —COR⁵⁶; —COOR⁴⁹; —CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —SO₂R⁵⁴; or —PO(OR⁵²)₂; or -   R²⁴ and R⁵⁵ taken together can form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;     —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁵⁷(CH₂)₂—; -   R⁵⁶ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁵⁷;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁵⁸; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²⁴R⁵⁵;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; or —(CH₂)_(o)(C R⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; -   R⁵⁷ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl, aryl-lower alkyl;     heteroaryl-lower alkyl; —COR⁵⁶; —COOR⁴⁹; or —CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; -   R⁵⁸ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; aryl-lower alkyl;     heteroaryl-lower alkyl; or —CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; -   R⁵⁹ is H; Cl; Br; F; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; —N²⁴COR⁵⁶; lower     alkyl; or lower alkenyl; -   R⁶⁰ is H; Cl; Br; F; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; —N²⁴COR⁵⁶; lower     alkyl; or lower alkenyl; -   R⁶¹ is H; Cl; Br; F; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; —N²⁴COR⁵⁶; lower     alkyl; or lower alkenyl; -   R⁶² is H; Cl; Br; F; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; —N²⁴COR⁵⁶; lower     alkyl; or lower alkenyl;     with the proviso that at least two of R⁵⁹, R⁶⁰, R⁶¹ and R⁶² are H -   R⁶³ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CH₂R⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CH₂R⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵⁴)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)(CH₂R⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CH₂R⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹;     m is 2-4; o is 0-4; p is 1-4; q is 0-2; r is 1 or 2; s is 0 or 1;     Z is a chain of 4 α-amino acid residues, the positions of said amino     acid residues in said chain being counted starting from the     N-terminal amino acid, whereby these amino acid residues are,     depending on their position in the chain, Gly or Pro or of one of     the types     C: —NR¹¹CH(R⁶⁴)CO—;     D: —NR¹¹CH(R⁶⁵)CO—;     E: —NR¹¹CH(R⁶⁶)CO—;     F: —NR¹¹CH(R⁷⁶)CO—; -   R⁶⁴ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁸)_(s)OR⁷⁷; or     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁸)_(s)SR⁷⁷; -   R⁶⁵ is —(CH₂)_(o)R⁶⁹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(o)R⁶⁹;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(o)R⁶⁹; or —(CH₂)_(r)NR¹¹(CH₂)_(o)R⁶⁹; -   R⁶⁶ is —(CH₂)_(p)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)NR⁶⁹R⁷²;     —(CH₂)_(p)C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁶R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)N═C(NR⁷⁰R⁷²)NR⁷¹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁶⁹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄N═C(NR⁷⁰R⁷²)NR⁷¹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(m)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(m)NR⁶⁹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(m)NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(m)N═C(NR⁷⁰R⁷²)NR⁷¹R⁷²;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄CNR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(m)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(m)NR⁶⁹R⁷²;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C(NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(m)NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(m)N═C(NR⁷⁰R⁷²)NR⁷¹R⁷²;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄CNR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)NR⁷²COR⁵⁶;     —(CH₂)_(p)NR⁷²COR⁶⁹; -   R⁶⁷ is lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; or -   R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together can form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;     —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; or -   R⁶⁸ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl-lower alkyl;     —(CH₂)_(o)OR⁶⁴; —(CH₂)_(o)SR⁶⁴; —(CH₂)_(o)NR²³R²⁴;     —(CH₂)_(o)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶;     —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂;     —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)COR⁵⁶; -   R⁶⁹ is —C₆R⁵⁹R⁶⁰R⁶¹R⁶²R⁶⁸; or a heteroaryl group of one of the     formulae

-   R⁷⁰ is H; lower alkyl; aryl; or aryl-lower alkyl; -   R⁶⁹ and R⁷² taken together can form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;     —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; -   R⁷¹ is H; lower alkyl; aryl; or aryl-lower alkyl; or -   R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹, taken together, can be —(CH₂)₂₋₇—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; or     —(CH₂)₂NR⁵⁷(CH₂)₂—; -   R⁷² is H; or lower alkyl; -   R⁷³ is H; lower alkyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; -   R⁷⁴ is H; lower alkyl; aryl; heteroaryl; or aryl-lower alkyl; or -   R⁷⁵ is H; lower alkyl; aryl; or —NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; -   R⁷⁶ is —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁹)_(s)OH; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁹)_(s)CONR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁹)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁹)_(s)NR⁷²CONR⁷⁰R⁷¹;     —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁹)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄CONR⁷⁰R⁷¹; or     —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁷²CONR⁷⁰R⁷¹; -   R⁷⁷ is lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; -   R⁷⁸ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁷⁷; or —(CH₂)_(p)SR⁷⁷; -   R⁷⁹ is H; alkyl; alkenyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aryl-lower alkyl;     —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁷⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷;     —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹;     —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂; or —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴;     with the proviso that in said chain of 4 α-amino acid residues Z the     amino acid residues in positions 1 to 4 are:

P1: of type C, or of type D or of type E, or of type F; or the residue is Gly; P2: of type E, or of type C, or of type D; or the residue is Gly or Pro; P3: of type C or of type E or of type D or of type F; or the residue is Gly or Pro; P4: of type C, or of type D or of type E, or of type F, or the residue is Gly, at P2 and P3 also D-isomers being possible; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In accordance with the present invention these β-hairpin peptidomimetics can be prepared by a process which comprises

(a) coupling an appropriately functionalized solid support with a compound of the general formula

wherein

is as defined above and X is an N-protecting group or, alternatively, if

is to be group (a1) or (a2), above,

-   -   (aa) coupling said appropriately functionalized solid support         with an appropriately N-protected derivative of an amino acid of         the general formula         HOOC—B—H  III         or         HOOC-A-H  IV     -   wherein B and A are as defined above, any functional group which         may be present in said N-protected amino acid derivative being         likewise appropriately protected;     -   (ab) removing the N-protecting group from the product thus         obtained; and     -   (ac) coupling the product thus obtained with an appropriately         N-protected derivative of an amino acid of the above general         formula IV and, respectively, III, any functional group which         may be present in said N-protected amino acid derivative being         likewise appropriately protected;         (b) removing the N-protecting group from the product obtained in         step (a), or (ac);         (c) coupling the product thus obtained with an appropriately         N-protected derivative of that amino acid which in the desired         end-product is in position 4, any functional group which may be         present in said N-protected amino acid derivative being likewise         appropriately protected;         (d) removing the N-protecting group from the product thus         obtained;         (e) coupling the product thus obtained with an appropriately         N-protected derivative of that amino acid which in the desired         end-product is one position farther away from position 4, any         functional group which may be present in said N-protected amino         acid derivative being likewise appropriately protected;         (f) removing the N-protecting group from the product thus         obtained;         (g) repeating steps (e) and (f) until all amino acid residues         have been introduced;         (h) if desired, selectively deprotecting one or several         protected functional group(s) present in the molecule and         appropriately substituting the reactive group(s) thus liberated;         (i) detaching the product thus obtained from the solid support;         (j) cyclizing the product cleaved from the solid support;         (k) removing any protecting groups present on functional groups         of any members of the chain of amino acid residues and, if         desired, any protecting group(s) which may in addition be         present in the molecule; and         (l) if desired, converting the product thus obtained into a         pharmaceutically acceptable salt or converting a         pharmaceutically acceptable, or unacceptable, salt thus obtained         into the corresponding free compound of formula I or into a         different, pharmaceutically acceptable, salt.

The peptidomimetics of the present invention can also be enantiomers of the compounds of formula I. These enantiomers can be prepared by a modification of the above process in which enantiomers of all chiral starting materials are used.

As used in this description, the term “alkyl”, taken alone or in combinations, designates saturated, straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radicals having up to 24, preferably up to 12, carbon atoms, optionally substituted with halogen. Similarly, the term “alkenyl” designates straight chain or branched hydrocarbon radicals having up to 24, preferably up to 12, carbon atoms and containing at least one or, depending on the chain length, up to four olefinic double bonds, optionally substituted with halogen. The term “lower” designates radicals and compounds having up to 6 carbon atoms. Thus, for example, the term “lower alkyl” designates saturated, straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radicals having up to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl and the like. The term “aryl” designates aromatic carbocyclic hydrocarbon radicals containing one or two six-membered rings, such as phenyl or naphthyl, which may be substituted by up to three substituents such as Br, Cl, F, CF₃, OCF₃OCHF₂, NO₂, lower alkyl or lower alkenyl. The term “heteroaryl” designates aromatic heterocyclic radicals containing one or two five- and/or six-membered rings, at least one of them containing up to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N and said ring(s) being optionally substituted; representative examples of such optionally substituted heteroaryl radicals are indicated hereinabove in connection with the definition of R⁶⁹.

The structural element -A-CO— designates amino acid building blocks which in combination with the structural element —B—CO— form templates (a1) and (a2). Templates (a) through (s) constitute building blocks which have an N-terminus and a C-terminus oriented in space in such a way that the distance between those two groups may lie between 4.0-5.5 A. A peptide chain Z is linked to the C-terminus and the N-terminus of the templates (a) through (s) via the corresponding N- and C-termini so that the template and the chain form a cyclic structure such as that depicted in formula I. In a case as here where the distance between the N- and C-termini of the template lies between 4.0-5.5 A the template will induce the H-bond network necessary for the formation of a β-hairpin conformation in the peptide chain Z. Thus template and peptide chain form a β hairpin mimetic.

The β-hairpin conformation is highly relevant for the agonizing or antagonizing activity activity of the β-hairpin mimetics of the present invention. The β-hairpin stabilizing conformational properties of the templates (a) through (s) play a key role not only for the agonizing or antagonizing activity but also for the synthesis process defined hereinabove, as incorporation of the templates at the beginning of the linear protected peptide precursors enhances cyclization yields significantly.

Building blocks A1-A71 belong to a class of amino acids wherein the N-terminus is a secondary amine forming part of a ring. Among the genetically encoded amino acids only proline falls into this class. The configuration of building block A1 through A71 is (D), and they are combined with a building block —B—CO— of (L)-configuration A1 through A69. Preferred combinations for templates (a1) are -^(D)A1-CO—^(L)B—CO— to ^(D)A71-CO—^(L)B—CO—. Thus, for example, ^(D)Pro-^(L)Tic constitutes the prototype of templates (a1). Less preferred, but possible are combinations —CO—^(D)B—CO-^(L)A1-CO— to —^(D)B—CO^(L)A71-CO— forming templates (a2). Thus, for example, ^(L)-Pro-^(D)Tic constitutes the prototype of template (a2).

It will be appreciated that building blocks -A1-CO— to -A71-CO— in which A has (D)-configuration, are carrying a group R¹ at the α-position to the N-terminus. The preferred values for R¹ are H and lower alkyl with the most preferred values for R¹ being H and methyl. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art, that A1-A71 are shown in (D)-configuration which, for R¹ being H and methyl, corresponds to the (R)-configuration. Depending on the priority of other values for R¹ according to the Cahn, Ingold and Prelog-rules, this configuration may also have to be expressed as (S).

In addition to R¹ building blocks -A1-CO— to -A33-CO— can carry an additional substituent designated as R² to R⁸. This additional substituent can be H, and if it is other than H, it is preferably a small to medium-sized aliphatic or aromatic group. Examples of preferred values for R² to R⁸ are:

-   -   R²: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; (CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); (CH₂)_(p)SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); (CH₂)_(p)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         (CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together form:         —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶(where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl;         or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; CF₃; lower alkyl;         lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃, OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl;         —(CH₂)_(o)OR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl);         (CH₂)_(o)SR⁴³ (where R⁴³: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl;         R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴ taken together form:         —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together form:         —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower         alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—;         —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where         R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: H; or         lower alkyl; R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl;         and R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form:         —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹; H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); or         —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower         alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R⁴: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂).SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(m)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶(where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl;         or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R⁵: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(m)SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂).NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; lower alkyl; R⁵⁶:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where R⁴⁹:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R⁵⁰:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R⁶: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)0R⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(m)SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹⁷R²³ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         (CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R⁷: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂).SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂).NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(r)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(r)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl;         or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(r)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R⁸: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl;         or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).

Among the building blocks A1 to A71 the following are preferred: A2 with R² being H, A12 with R³ being H, A69, A70 with R² being H, or A71 with R⁵ being H.

Most preferred are building blocks of type A71′:

wherein R¹¹ is H or lower alkyl; and R⁵⁶ is alkyl; alkenyl; aryl; aryl-lower alkyl; or heteroaryl-lower alkyl; especially those wherein R⁵⁶ is n-hexyl (A71′-1); n-heptyl (A71′-2); 4-(phenyl)benzyl (A71′-3); diphenylmethyl (A71′-4); 3-amino-propyl (A71′-5); 5-amino-pentyl (A71′-6); methyl (A71′-7); ethyl (A71′-8); isopropyl (A71′-9); isobutyl (A71′-10); n-propyl (A71′-11); cyclohexyl (A71′-12); cyclohexylmethyl (A71′-13); n-butyl (A71′-14); phenyl (A71′-15); benzyl (A71′-16); (3-indolyl)methyl (A71′-17); 2-(3-indolyl)ethyl (A71′-18); (4-phenyl)phenyl (A71′-19); and n-nonyl (A71′-20).

Building block A34 belongs to the class of open-chain α-substituted α-amino acids, building blocks A35 and A36 to the corresponding β-amino acid analogues and building blocks A37-A71 to the cyclic analogues of A34. Such amino acid derivatives have been shown to constrain small peptides in well defined reverse turn or U-shaped conformations (C. M. Venkatachalam, Biopolymers, 1968, 6, 1425-1434; W. Kabsch, C Sander, Biopolymers 1983, 22, 2577). Such building blocks or templates are ideally suited for the stabilization of 13-hairpin conformations in peptide loops (D. Obrecht, M. Altorfer, J. A. Robinson, “Novel Peptide Mimetic Building Blocks and Strategies for Efficient Lead Finding”, Adv. Med. Chem. 1999, Vol. 4, 1-68; P. Balaram, “Non-standard amino acids in peptide design and protein engineering”, Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 1992, 2, 845-851; M. Crisma, G. Valle, C. Toniolo, S. Prasad, R. B. Rao, P. Balaram, “β-turn conformations in crystal structures of model peptides containing α,α-disubstituted amino acids”, Biopolymers 1995, 35, 1-9; V. J. Hruby, F. Al-Obeidi, W. Kazmierski, Biochem. J. 1990, 268, 249-262).

It has been shown that both enantiomers of building blocks -A34-CO— to A68-CO— in combination with a building block —B—CO— of L-configuration can efficiently stabilize and induce β-hairpin conformations (D. Obrecht, M. Altorfer, J. A. Robinson, “Novel Peptide Mimetic Building Blocks and Strategies for Efficient Lead Finding”, Adv. Med. Chem. 1999, Vol. 4, 1-68; D. Obrecht, C. Spiegler, P. Schönholzer, K. Müller, H. Heimgartner, F. Stierli, Helv. Chim. Acta 1992, 75, 1666-1696; D. Obrecht, U. Bohdal, J. Daly, C. Lehmann, P. Schönholzer, K. Müller, Tetrahedron 1995, 51, 10883-10900; D. Obrecht, C. Lehmann, C. Ruffieux, P. Schönholzer, K. Müller, Helv. Chim. Acta 1995, 78, 1567-1587; D. Obrecht, U. Bohdal, C. Broger, D. Bur, C. Lehmann, R. Ruffieux, P. Schönholzer, C. Spiegler, Helv. Chim. Acta 1995, 78, 563-580; D. Obrecht, H. Karajiannis, C. Lehmann, P. Schönholzer, C. Spiegler, Helv. Chim. Acta 1995, 78, 703-714).

Thus, for the purposes of the present invention templates (a1) and (a2) can also consist of -A34-CO— to A71-CO— where building block A34 to A71 is of (D)-configuration, in combination with a building block B—CO— of (L)-configuration.

Preferred values for R¹¹ in A34 to A71 are H or lower alkyl with methyl being most preferred. Preferred values for R⁹-R²⁰ in building blocks A34 to A68 are the following:

-   -   R⁹: lower alkyl.     -   R¹⁰: lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵¹R⁵² (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵¹: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁸²: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵¹         and R⁵² taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R²⁰: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl;         or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(o)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R¹¹ is H or lower alkyl;     -   R¹²: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹CONR⁵¹R⁵² (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁸¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); (CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or (CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R¹³: lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: (CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶(where: R²⁰: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R¹⁴: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); particularly favoured are         NR¹¹CO lower alkyl (R¹¹═H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹         (where R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹         (where R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower         alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—;         —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where         R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F;         Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower         alkoxy);     -   R¹⁵ is R¹¹;     -   R¹⁶ lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²³: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); particularly favoured are         NR²⁰CO lower alkyl (R²⁰═H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹         (where R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹         (where R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower         alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—;         —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where         R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F;         Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂;lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower         alkoxy);     -   R¹⁷: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹⁷R²³ (where R¹⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²³: H; or lower alkyl; or R¹⁷         and R²³ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)N(R¹¹)COR¹¹ (where: R²⁰: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂ lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R¹⁸: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂).NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²³: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂ lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R¹⁹: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂).NR²³R²⁴ (where R¹⁷: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶(where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   Alternatively, R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ taken together can be —(CH₂)₂₋₆—;         —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where         R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl).     -   R²⁰ is R¹⁴;

For templates (b) to (s), such as (b1) and (c1), the preferred values for the various symbols are the following:

-   -   R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(o)OR⁴⁷         (where R⁴⁷: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SR⁴⁸         (where R⁴⁸: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)NR²³R²⁴         (where R²³: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower         alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—;         —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where         R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁸²: H; or lower         alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—;         —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where         R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H;         or lower alkyl; R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl;         and R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form:         —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl);         —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); or         —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower         alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl.     -   R²¹: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³         and R²⁴ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H; or         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); (—CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(r)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy); most         preferred is —CH₂CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵¹: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl).     -   R²²: H, methyl.     -   R²³: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(m)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³         and R²⁴ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); (CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷(where R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl; R⁶⁷: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl).     -   R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl.     -   R²⁵: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(m)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³         and R²⁴ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; lower         alkyl); or (CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R²⁶: lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl-lower alkyl;         or(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower         alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R²⁷: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³         and R²⁴ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         folio: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R^(H): H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R²⁸: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³         and R²⁴ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R¹⁷ and R⁷⁸ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵² taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; lower         alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R²⁹: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; OCF₃; OCHF₂; aryl-lower         alkyl.     -   R³⁰: lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or aryl-lower alkyl.     -   R³¹: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³         and R²⁴ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R³²: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³         and R²⁴ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         (CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H; or         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₃—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl;         R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where         R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where         R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or         R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R³³: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(m)SR⁴⁸ (where R⁴⁸: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂).NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower         alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴         taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or         lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷ taken together         form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl);         —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H;         or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂).N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁶:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where R⁴⁹:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R⁵⁰:         lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰         and R⁵¹ taken together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—;         —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower         alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower         alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃;         OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R³⁴: H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or —(CH₂)₀C₆H₄R³ (where R³:         H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower         alkoxy).     -   R³⁵ is R³⁴.     -   R³⁶: H; (CH₂)oOR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl);         —(CH₂)₀C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower         alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).     -   R³⁷ is R³⁴.     -   R³⁸ is R³⁴.     -   R³⁹ is R³⁴.     -   R⁴⁰ is R³⁴.     -   R⁴¹ is R³⁴.     -   R⁴²: H; (CH₂)oOR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl);     -   R⁴³ is R¹⁷.     -   R⁴⁴ is R¹⁷.     -   R⁴⁵ is R¹².     -   R⁴⁶: H; lower alkyl; —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where R⁴⁹: lower alkyl;         or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R⁵⁰: lower alkyl;         or lower alkenyl; and R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R³¹ taken         together form: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or         —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); or         (CH₂)_(s)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂;         lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy).

Among the building blocks A34 to A68 the following are preferred: A38 with R²² being H, A39, A40, A41 with R²² being H, A42 and A43.

The building block —B—CO— within templates (a1) and (a2) designates an L-amino acid residue. Preferred values for B are enantiomers of groups A2 with R² being H. and A 12 with R³ being H. Most preferred are

Tic L-3-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid; and Azt L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid

The peptidic chain Z of the β-hairpin mimetics described herein is generally defined in terms of amino acid residues belonging to one of the following groups:

Group C —NR¹¹CH(R⁶⁴)CO—; “hydrophobic: small to medium-sized” Group D —NR¹¹CH(R⁶⁵)CO—; “hydrophobic: large aromatic or heteroaromatic” Group E —NR¹¹CH(R⁶⁶)CO—; “polar-cationic” and “urea-derived” Group F —NR¹¹CH(R⁷⁶)CO—; “polar-non-charged or anionic”

Furthermore, Gly can also be an amino acid residue in chain Z.

Group C comprises amino acid residues with small to medium-sized hydrophobic side chain groups according to the general definition for substituent R⁶⁴. A hydrophobic residue refers to an amino acid side chain that is uncharged at physiological pH and that is repelled by aqueous solution. Furthermore these side chains generally do not contain hydrogen bond donor groups, such as (but not limited to) primary and secondary amides, primary and secondary amines and the corresponding protonated salts thereof, thiols, alcohols, phosphonates, phosphates, ureas or thioureas. However, they may contain hydrogen bond acceptor groups such as ethers, thioethers, esters, tertiary amides, alkyl- or aryl phosphonates and phosphates or tertiary amines. Genetically encoded small-to-medium-sized amino acids include alanine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine and valine.

Group D comprises amino acid residues with aromatic and heteroaromatic side chain groups according to the general definition for substituent R⁶⁵. An aromatic amino acid residue refers to a hydrophobic amino acid having a side chain containing at least one ring having a conjugated π-electron system (aromatic group). In addition they may contain hydrogen bond donor groups such as (but not limited to) primary and secondary amides, primary and secondary amines and the corresponding protonated salts thereof, thiols, alcohols, phosphonates, phosphates, ureas or thioureas, and hydrogen bond acceptor groups such as (but not limited to) ethers, thioethers, esters, tetriary amides, alkyl- or aryl phosphonates- and phosphates or tertiary amines. Genetically encoded aromatic amino acids include phenylalanine and tyrosine.

A heteroaromatic amino acid residue refers to a hydrophobic amino acid having a side chain containing at least one ring having a conjugated π-system incorporating at least one heteroatom such as (but not limited to) O, S and N according to the general definition for substituent R⁶⁹. In addition such residues may contain hydrogen bond donor groups such as (but not limited to) primary and secondary amides, primary and secondary amines and the corresponding protonated salts thereof, thiols, alcohols, phosphonates, phosphates, ureas or thioureas, and hydrogen bond acceptor groups such as (but not limited to) ethers, thioethers, esters, tetriary amides, alkyl- or aryl phosphonates- and phosphates or tertiary amines. Genetically encoded heteroaromatic amino acids include tryptophan and histidine.

Group E comprises amino acids containing side chains with polar-cationic (e.g. amino, guanidino, amidino and, acylamino-derived residues according to the general definition for substituent R⁶⁶. Polar-cationic refers to a basic side chain which is protonated at physiological pH. Genetically encoded polar-cationic amino acids include arginine, lysine, and histidine.

Group F comprises amino acids containing side chains with polar-non-charged or anionic residues according to the general definition for substituent R⁷⁶. A polar-non-charged or anionic residue refers to a hydrophilic side chain that is uncharged and, respectively anionic at physiological pH (carboxylic acids being included), but that is not repelled by aqueous solutions. Such side chains typically contain hydrogen bond donor groups such as (but not limited to) primary and secondary amides, carboxyclic acids and esters, primary and secondary amines, thiols, alcohols, phosphonates, phosphates, ureas or thioureas. Citrulline is an example for an urea derived amino acid residue. These groups can form hydrogen bond networks with water molecules. In addition they may also contain hydrogen bond acceptor groups such as (but not limited to) ethers, thioethers, esters, tetriary amides, carboxylic acids and carboxylates, alkyl- or aryl phosphonates- and phosphates or tertiary amines. Genetically encoded polar-non-charged amino acids include asparagine, cysteine, glutamine, serine and threonine, but also aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and citrulline.

Most preferred amino acid residues in chain Z are those derived from natural α-amino acids. Hereinafter follows a list of amino acids which, or the residues of which, are suitable for the purposes of the present invention, the abbreviations corresponding to generally adopted usual practice:

three one letter letter code code Ala L-Alanine A Arg L-Arginine R Asn L-Asparagine N Asp L-Aspartic acid D Cys L-Cysteine C Glu L-Glutamic acid E Gln L-Glutamine Q Gly Glycine G His L-Histidine H Ile L-Isoleucine I Leu L-Leucine L Lys L-Lysine K Met L-Methionine M Phe L-Phenylalanine F Pro L-Proline P ^(D)Pro D-Proline ^(D)P Ser L-Serine S Thr L-Threonine T Trp L-Tryptophan W Tyr L-Tyrosine Y Val L-Valine V

Other α-amino acids which, or the residues of which, are suitable for the purposes of the present invention include:

Cit L-Citrulline Orn L-Ornithine tBuA L-t-Butylalanine Sar Sarcosine Pen L-Penicillamine t-BuG L-tert.-Butylglycine 4AmPhe L-para-Aminophenylalanine 3AmPhe L-meta-Aminophenylalanine 2AmPhe L-ortho-Aminophenylalanine Phe(mC(NH₂)═NH) L-meta-Amidinophenylalanine Phe(pC(NH₂)═NH) L-para-Amidinophenylalanine Phe(mNHC (NH₂)═NH) L-meta-Guanidinophenylalanine Phe(pNHC (NH₂)═NH) L-para-Guanidinophenylalanine Phg L-Phenylglycine Cha L-Cyclohexylalanine C₄al L-3-Cyclobutylalanine C₅al L-3-Cyclopentylalanine Nle L-Norleucine 2-Nal L-2-Naphthylalanine 1-Nal L-1-Naphthylalanine 4Cl-Phe L-4-Chlorophenylalanine 3Cl-Phe L-3-Chlorophenylalanine 2Cl-Phe L-2-Chlorophenylalanine 3,4Cl₂-Phe L-3,4-Dichlorophenylalanine 4F-Phe L-4-Fluorophenylalanine 3F-Phe L-3-Fluorophenylalanine 2F-Phe L-2-Fluorophenylalanine Tic 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid Thi L-β-2-Thienylalanine Tza L-2-Thiazolylalanine Mso L-Methionine sulfoxide AcLys N-Acetyllysine Dpr 2,3-Diaminopropionic acid A₂Bu 2,4-Diaminobutyric acid Dbu (S)-2,3-Diaminobutyric acid Abu γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) Aha ε-Aminohexanoic acid Aib α-Aminoisobutyric acid Y(Bzl) L-O-Benzyltyrosine Bip L-(4-phenyl)phenylalanine S(Bzl) L-O-Benzylserine T(Bzl) L-O-Benzylthreonine hCha L-Homo-cyclohexylalanine hCys L-Homo-cysteine hSer L-Homo-serine hArg L-Homo-arginine hPhe L-Homo-phenylalanine Bpa L-4-Benzoylphenylalanine 4-AmPyrr1 (2S,4S)-4-Amino-pyrrolidine-L-carboxylic acid 4-AmPyrr2 (2S,4R)-4-Amino-pyrrolidine-L-carboxylic acid 4-PhePyrr1 (2S,5R)-4-Phenyl-pyrrolidine-L-carboxylic acid 4-PhePyrr2 (2S,5S)-4-Phenyl-pyrrolidine-L-carboxylic acid 5-PhePyrr1 (2S,5R)-5-Phenyl-pyrrolidine-L-carboxylic acid 5-PhePyrr2 (2S,5S)-5-Phenyl-pyrrolidine-L-carboxylic acid Pro(4-OH)1 (4S)-L-Hydroxyproline Pro(4-OH)2 (4R)-L-Hydroxyproline Pip L-Pipecolic acid ^(D)Pip D-Pipecolic acid OctG L-Octylglycine NGly N-Methylglycine MePhe L-N-Methylphenylalanine MeNle L-N-Methylnorleucine MeAla L-N-Methylalanine MeIle L-N-Methylisoleucine MeVal L-N-Methylvaline MeLeu L-N-Methylleucine DimK L-(N′,N′Dimethyl)-lysine Lpzp L-Piperazinic acid Dpzp D-Piperazinic acid Isorn L-(N′,N′-diisobutyl)-ornithine PipAla L-2-(4′-piperidinyl)-alanine PirrAla L-2-(3′-pyrrolidinyl)-alanine Ampc 4-Amino-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid NMeR L-N-Methylarginine NMeK L-N-Methyllysine NMePhe L-N-Methylphenylalanine BnG N-Benzylglycine (4-OH)BnG N-4-Hydroxy-benzylglycine IaG N-Isoamylglycine IbG N-Isobutlyglycine Azt L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid

Particularly preferred residues for group C are:

Ala L-Alanine Ile L-Isoleucine Leu L-Leucine Met L-Methionine Val L-Valine tBuA L-t-Butylalanine t-BuG L-tert.-Butylglycine Cha L-Cyclohexylalanine C₄al L-3-Cyclobutylalanine C₅al L-3-Cyclopentylalanine Nle L-Norleucine hCha L-Homo-cyclohexylalanine OctG L-Octylglycine MePhe L-N-Methylphenylalanine MeNle L-N-Methylnorleucine MeAla L-N-Methylalanine MeIle L-N-Methylisoleucine MeVal L-N-Methylvaline MeLeu L-N-Methylleucine Azt L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid

Particularly preferred residues for group D are:

His L-Histidine Phe L-Phenylalanine Trp L-Tryptophan Tyr L-Tyrosine Phg L-Phenylglycine 2-Nal L-2-Naphthylalanine 1-Nal L-1-Naphthylalanine 4Cl-Phe L-4-Chlorophenylalanine 3Cl-Phe L-3-Chlorophenylalanine 2Cl-Phe L-2-Chlorophenylalanine 3,4Cl₂-Phe L-3,4-Dichlorophenylalanine 4F-Phe L-4-Fluorophenylalanine 3F-Phe L-3-Fluorophenylalanine 2F-Phe L-2-Fluorophenylalanine Thi L-β-2-Thienylalanine Tza L-2-Thiazolylalanine Y(Bzl) L-O-Benzyltyrosine Bip L-Biphenylalanine S(Bzl) L-O-Benzylserine T(Bzl) L-O-Benzylthreonine hPhe L-Homo-phenylalanine Bpa L-4-Benzoylphenylalanine PirrAla L-2-(3′-pyrrolidinyl)-alanine NMePhe L-N-Methylphenylalanine 4-PyrAla L-2-(4′Pyridyl)-alanine

Particularly preferred residues for group E are

Arg L-Arginine Lys L-Lysine Orn L-Ornithine Dpr L-2,3-Diaminopropionic acid A₂Bu L-2,4-Diaminobutyric acid Dbu (S)-2,3-Diaminobutyric acid Phe(pNH₂) L-para-Aminophenylalanine Phe(mNH₂) L-meta-Aminophenylalanine Phe(oNH₂) L-ortho-Aminophenylalanine hArg L-Homo-arginine Phe(mC(NH₂)═NH) L-meta-Amidinophenylalanine Phe(pC(NH₂)═NH) L-para-Amidinophenylalanine Phe(mNHC (NH₂)═NH) L-meta-Guanidinophenylalanine Phe(pNHC (NH₂)═NH) L-para-Guanidinophenylalanine DimK L-(N′,N′Dimethyl)-lysine Isorn L-(N′,N′-diisobutyl)-ornithine NMeR L-N-Methylarginine NMeK L-N-Methyllysine OrnPyr L-2-Amino-5-[(2′carbonylpyrazine)]amino- pentanoic PipAla L-2-(4′-piperidinyl)-alanine

Particularly preferred residues for group F are

Asn L-Asparagine Asp L-Aspartic acid Cys L-Cysteine Gln L-Glutamine Glu L-Glutamic acid Ser L-Serine Thr L-Threonine Cit L-Citrulline Pen L-Penicillamine AcLys L-N^(ε)-Acetyllysine hCys L-Homo-cysteine hSer L-Homo-serine

Generally, the peptidic chain Z within the β-hairpin mimetics of the invention comprises 4 amino acid residues. The positions P1 to P4 of each amino acid residue in the chain Z are unequivocally defined as follows: P1 represents the first amino acid in the chain Z that is coupled with its N-terminus to the C-terminus of the templates (b)-(s), or of group —B—CO— in template (a1), or of group -A-CO— in template (a2); and P4 represents the last amino acid in the chain Z that is coupled with its C-terminus to the N-terminus of the templates (b)-(s), or of group -A-CO— in template (a1), or of group —B—CO— in template (a2), Each of the positions P1 to P4 will contain an amino acid residue belonging to one of the above types C D, E, F, or being Gly, as follows:

The α-amino acid residues in positions 1 to 4 of the chain Z are preferably:

P1: of type C, or of type D or of type E or of type F or the residue is Gly; P2: of type D or of type E or of type C or the residue is Gly; P3: of type D or of type E or the residue is Gly; P4: of type C, or of type D or of type E or of type F, or the residue is Gly; at P2 and P3 also D-isomers being possible.

The α-amino acid residues in positions 1 to 4 are most preferably:

P1: Phe, Ile, Gln, Thr, Trp, Glu, Tyr; P2: Trp, Lys, ^(D)Val; P3: Lys, Tyr, Arg, Trp; P4: Tyr, His, Gly, Ala, Orn, Lys;

Particularly preferred β-peptidomimetics of the invention include those described in Examples 2 and 15.

The processes of the invention can advantageously be carried out as parallel array syntheses to yield libraries of template-fixed β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the above general formula I. Such parallel syntheses allow one to obtain arrays of numerous (normally 24 to 192, typically 96) compounds of general formula I in high yields and defined purities, minimizing the formation of dimeric and polymeric by-products. The proper choice of the functionalized solid-support (i.e. solid support plus linker molecule), templates and site of cyclization play thereby key roles.

The functionalized solid support is conveniently derived from polystyrene crosslinked with, preferably 1-5%, divinylbenzene; polystyrene coated with polyethyleneglycol spacers (Tentagel^(R)); and polyacrylamide resins (see also Obrecht, D.; Villalgordo, J.-M, “Solid-Supported Combinatorial and Parallel Synthesis of Small-Molecular-Weight Compound Libraries”, Tetrahedron Organic Chemistry Series, Vol. 17, Pergamon, Elsevier Science, 1998).

The solid support is functionalized by means of a linker, i.e. a bifunctional spacer molecule which contains on one end an anchoring group for attachment to the solid support and on the other end a selectively cleavable functional group used for the subsequent chemical transformations and cleavage procedures. For the purposes of the present invention two types of linkers are used:

Type 1 linkers are designed to release the amide group under acidic conditions (Rink H, Tetrahedron Lett. 1987, 28, 3783-3790). Linkers of this kind form amides of the carboxyl group of the amino acids; examples of resins functionalized by such linker structures include 4-[(((2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)Fmoc-aminomethyl)phenoxyacetamido)aminomethyl] PS resin, 4-[(((2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)Fmoc-aminomethyl)phenoxyacetamido)aminomethyl]-4-methylbenzydrylamine PS resin (Rink amide MBHA. PS Resin), and 4-[(((2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)Fmoc-aminomethyl)phenoxyacetamido)aminomethyl]benzhydrylamine PS-resin (Rink amide BHA PS resin). Preferably, the support is derived from polystyrene crosslinked with, most preferably 1-5%, divinylbenzene and functionalized by means of the 4-(((2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)Fmoc-aminomethyl)phenoxyacetamido) linker.

Type 2 linkers are designed to eventually release the carboxyl group under acidic conditions. Linkers of this kind form acid-labile esters with the carboxyl group of the amino acids, usually acid-labile benzyl, benzhydryl and trityl esters; examples of such linker structures include 2-methoxy-4-hydroxymethylphenoxy (Sasrin^(R) linker), 4-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl-hydroxymethyl)-phenoxy (Rink linker), 4-(4-hydroxymethyl-3-methoxyphenoxy)butyric acid (HMPB linker), trityl and 2-chlorotrityl. Preferably, the support is derived from polystyrene crosslinked with, most preferably 1-5%, divinylbenzene and functionalized by means of the 2-chlorotrityl linker.

When carried out as parallel array syntheses the processes of the invention can be advantageously carried out as described herein below but it will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art how these procedures will have to be modified in case it is desired to synthesize one single compound of the above formula I.

A number of reaction vessels (normally 24 to 192, typically 96) equal to the total number of compounds to be synthesized by the parallel method are loaded with 25 to 1000 mg, preferably 100 mg, of the appropriate functionalized solid support which is preferably derived from polystyrene cross-linked with 1 to 3% of divinylbenzene, or from Tentagel resin.

The solvent to be used must be capable of swelling the resin and includes, but is not limited to, dichloromethane (DCM), dimethylformamide (DMF), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), dioxane, toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), ethanol (EtOH), trifluoroethanol (TFE), isopropylalcohol and the like. Solvent mixtures containing as at least one component a polar solvent (e.g. 20% TFE/DCM, 35% THF/NMP) are beneficial for ensuring high reactivity and solvation of the resin-bound peptide chains (Fields, G. B., Fields, C. G., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1991, 113, 4202-4207).

With the development of various linkers that release the C-terminal carboxylic acid group under mild acidic conditions, not affecting acid-labile groups protecting functional groups in the side chain(s), considerable progresses have been made in the synthesis of protected peptide fragments. The 2-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzylalcohol-derived linker (Sasrin^(R) linker, Mergler et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1988, 29 4005-4008) is cleavable with diluted trifluoroacetic acid (0.5-1% TFA in DCM) and is stable to Fmoc deprotection conditions during the peptide synthesis, Boc/tBu-based additional protecting groups being compatible with this protection scheme. Other linkers which are suitable for the processes of the invention include the super acid labile 4-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl-hydroxymethyl)-phenoxy linker (Rink linker, Rink, H. Tetrahedron Lett. 1987, 28, 3787-3790), where the removal of the peptide requires 10% acetic acid in DCM or 0.2% trifluoroacetic acid in DCM; the 4-(4-hydroxymethyl-3-methoxyphenoxy)butyric acid-derived linker (HMPB-linker, Flörsheimer & Riniker, Peptides 1991, 1990 131) which is also cleaved with 1% TFA/DCM in order to yield a peptide fragment containing all acid labile side-chain protective groups; and, in addition, the 2-chlorotritylchloride linker (Barlos et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1989, 30, 3943-3946), which allows the peptide detachment using a mixture of glacial acetic acid/trifluoroethanol/DCM (1:2:7) for 30 min.

Suitable protecting groups for amino acids and, respectively, for their residues are, for example,

-   -   for the amino group (as is present e.g. also in the side-chain         of lysine)

Cbz benzyloxycarbonyl Boc tert.-butyloxycarbonyl Fmoc 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl Alloc allyloxycarbonyl Teoc trimethylsilylethoxycarbonyl Tcc trichloroethoxycarbonyl Nps o-nitrophenylsulfonyl; Trt triphenymethyl or trityl

-   -   for the carboxyl group (as is present e.g. also in the         side-chain of aspartic and glutamic acid) by conversion into         esters with the alcohol components

tBu tert.-butyl Bn benzyl Me methyl Ph phenyl Pac Phenacyl Allyl Tse trimethylsilylethyl Tce trichloroethyl;

-   -   for the guanidino group (as is present e.g. in the side-chain of         arginine)

Pmc 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethylchroman-6-sulfonyl Ts tosyl (i.e. p-toluenesulfonyl) Cbz benzyloxycarbonyl Pbf 2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyldihydrobenzofuran-5-sulfonyl

-   -   for the hydroxy group (as is present e.g. in the side-chain of         threonine and serine)

tBu tert.-butyl Bn benzyl Trt trityl

-   -   and for the mercapto group (as is present e.g. in the side-chain         of cysteine)

Acm acetamidomethyl tBu tert.-butyl Bn benzyl Trt trityl Mtr 4-methoxytrityl.

The 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-(Fmoc)-protected amino acid derivatives are preferably used as the building blocks for the construction of the template-fixed (3-hairpin loop mimetics of formula I. For the deprotection, i.e. cleaving off of the Fmoc group, 20% piperidine in DMF or 2% DBU/2% piperidine in DMF can be used.

The quantity of the reactant, i.e. of the amino acid derivative, is usually 1 to 20 equivalents based on the milliequivalents per gram (meq/g) loading of the functionalized solid support (typically 0.1 to 2.85 meq/g for polystyrene resins) originally weighed into the reaction tube. Additional equivalents of reactants can be used, if required, to drive the reaction to completion in a reasonable time. The reaction tubes, in combination with the holder block and the manifold, are reinserted into the reservoir block and the apparatus is fastened together. Gas flow through the manifold is initiated to provide a controlled environment, for example, nitrogen, argon, air and the like. The gas flow may also be heated or chilled prior to flow through the manifold. Heating or cooling of the reaction wells is achieved by heating the reaction block or cooling externally with isopropanol/dry ice and the like to bring about the desired synthetic reactions. Agitation is achieved by shaking or magnetic stirring (within the reaction tube). The preferred workstations (without, however, being limited thereto) are Labsource's Combi-chem station and MultiSyn Tech's-Syro synthesizer.

Amide bond formation requires the activation of the α-carboxyl group for the acylation step. When this activation is being carried out by means of the commonly used carbodiimides such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC, Sheehan & Hess, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1955, 77, 1067-1068) or diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC, Sarantakis et al Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1976, 73, 336-342), the resulting dicyclohexylurea and diisopropylurea is insoluble and, respectively, soluble in the solvents generally used. In a variation of the carbodiimide method 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt, König & Geiger, Chem. Ber 1970, 103, 788-798) is included as an additive to the coupling mixture. HOBt prevents dehydration, suppresses racemization of the activated amino acids and acts as a catalyst to improve the sluggish coupling reactions. Certain phosphonium reagents have been used as direct coupling reagents, such as benzotriazol-1-yl-oxy-tris-(dimethylamino)-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (BOP, Castro et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1975, 14, 1219-1222; Synthesis, 1976, 751-752), or benzotriazol-1-yl-oxy-tris-pyrrolidino-phosphonium hexafluorophoshate (Py-BOP, Coste et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1990, 31, 205-208), or 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl-) 1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU), or hexafluorophosphate (HBTU, Knorr et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1989, 30, 1927-1930); these phosphonium and uronium reagents are also suitable for in situ formation of HOBt esters with the protected amino acid derivatives. More recently diphenoxyphosphoryl azide (DPPA) or O-(7-aza-benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TATU) or O-(7-aza-benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU)/7-aza-1-hydroxy benzotriazole (HOAt, Carpino et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1994, 35, 2279-2281) have also been used as coupling reagents.

Due to the fact that near-quantitative coupling reactions are essential, it is desirable to have experimental evidence for completion of the reactions. The ninhydrin test (Kaiser et al., Anal. Biochemistry 1970, 34, 595), where a positive colorimetric response to an aliquot of resin-bound peptide indicates qualitatively the presence of the primary amine, can easily and quickly be performed after each coupling step. Fmoc chemistry allows the spectrophotometric detection of the Fmoc chromophore when it is released with the base (Meienhofer et al., Int. J. Peptide Protein Res. 1979, 13, 35-42).

The resin-bound intermediate within each reaction tube is washed free of excess of retained reagents, of solvents, and of by-products by repetitive exposure to pure solvent(s).

Washing procedures are repeated up to about 50 times (preferably about 10 times), monitoring the efficiency of reagent, solvent, and by-product removal by methods such as TLC, GC, LC-MS or inspection of the washings.

The above described procedure of reacting the resin-bound compound with reagents within the reaction wells followed by removal of excess reagents, by-products, and solvents is repeated with each successive transformation until the final resin-bound fully protected linear peptide has been obtained.

Before this fully protected linear peptide is detached from the solid support, it is possible, if desired, to selectively deprotect one or several protected functional group(s) present in the molecule and to appropriately substitute the reactive group(s) thus liberated. To this effect, the functional group(s) in question must initially be protected by a protecting group which can be selectively removed without affecting the remaining protecting groups present. Alloc (allyloxycarbonyl) is an example for such an amino protecting group which can be selectively removed, e.g. by means of Pd° and phenylsilane in CH₂Cl₂, without affecting the remaining protecting groups, such as Fmoc, present in the molecule. The reactive group thus liberated can then be treated with an agent suitable for introducing the desired substituent. Thus, for example, an amino group can be acylated by means of an acylating agent corresponding to the acyl substituent to be introduced.

After detachment of the fully protected linear peptide from the solid support the individual solutions/extracts are then manipulated as needed to isolate the final compounds. Typical manipulations include, but are not limited to, evaporation, concentration, liquid/liquid extraction, acidification, basification, neutralization or additional reactions in solution.

The solutions containing fully protected linear peptide derivatives which have been cleaved off from the solid support and neutralized with a base, are evaporated. Cyclization is then effected in solution using solvents such as DCM, DMF, dioxane, THF and the like. Various coupling reagents which were mentioned earlier can be used for the cyclization. The duration of the cyclization is about 6-48 hours, preferably about 16 hours. The progress of the reaction is followed, e.g. by RP-HPLC (Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography). Then the solvent is removed by evaporation, the fully protected cyclic peptide derivative is dissolved in a solvent which is not miscible with water, such as DCM, and the solution is extracted with water or a mixture of water-miscible solvents, in order to remove any excess of the coupling reagent.

Finally, the fully protected peptide derivative is treated with 95% TFA, 2.5% H₂O, 2.5% TIS or another combination of scavengers for effecting the cleavage of protecting groups. The cleavage reaction time is commonly 30 minutes to 12 hours, preferably about 2.5 hours. The volatiles are evaporated to dryness and the crude peptide is dissolved in 20% AcOH in water and extracted with isopropyl ether or other solvents which are suitable therefor. The aqueous layer is collected and evaporated to dryness, and the fully deprotected cyclic peptide derivative of formula I is obtained as end-product.

Depending on its purity, this peptide derivative can be used directly for biological assays, or it has to be further purified, for example by preparative HPLC.

As mentioned earlier, it is thereafter possible, if desired, to convert a fully deprotected product of formula I thus obtained into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or to convert a pharmaceutically acceptable, or unacceptable, salt thus obtained into the corresponding free compound of formula I or into a different, pharmaceutically acceptable, salt. Any of these operations can be carried out by methods well known in the art.

The starting materials used in the process of the invention, pre-starting materials therefore, and the preparation of these starting and pre-starting materials will now be discussed in detail.

Building blocks of type A can be synthesized according to the literature methods described below. The corresponding amino acids have been described either as unprotected or as Boc- or Fmoc-protected racemates, (D)- or (L)-isomers. It will be appreciated that unprotected amino acid building blocks can be easily transformed into the corresponding Fmoc-protected amino acid building blocks required for the present invention by standard protecting group manipulations. Reviews describing general methods for the synthesis of α-amino acids include: R. Duthaler, Tetrahedron (Report) 1994, 349, 1540-1650; R. M. Williams, “Synthesis of optically active α-amino acids”, Tetrahedron Organic Chemistry Series, Vol. 7, J. E. Baldwin, P. D. Magnus (Eds.), Pergamon Press, Oxford 1989. An especially useful method for the synthesis of optically active α-amino acids relevant for this invention includes kinetic resolution using hydrolytic enzymes (M. A. Verhovskaya, I. A. Yamskov, Russian Chem. Rev. 1991, 60, 1163-1179; R. M. Williams, “Synthesis of optically active α-amino acids”, Tetrahedron Organic Chemistry Series, Vol. 7, J. E. Baldwin, P. D. Magnus (Eds.), Pergamon Press, Oxford 1989, Chapter 7, p. 257-2′79). Hydrolytic enzymes involve hydrolysis of amides and nitriles by aminopeptidases or nitrilases, cleavage of N-acyl groups by acylases, and ester hydrolysis by lipases or proteases. It is well documented that certain enzymes will lead specifically to pure (L)-enantiomers whereas others yield the corresponding (D)-enantiomers (e.g.: R. Duthaler, Tetrahedron Report 1994, 349, 1540-1650; R. M. Williams, “Synthesis of optically active α-amino acids”, Tetrahedron Organic Chemistry Series, Vol. 7, J. E. Baldwin, P. D. Magnus (Eds.), Pergamon Press, Oxford 1989).

Building blocks A1 through A 17 and their preparation have been described previously, as indicated in the following table:

Preparation, including starting and pre-starting materials as Building block described in International Application as mentioned PCT/EP02/01711 of the same herein applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 A1 A2 A2 A3 A3 A4 A4 A5 A12 A6 A13 A7 A14 A8 A19 A9 A29 A10 A30 A11 A31 A12 A32 A13 A33 A14 A34 A15 A35 A16 A36 A17 A37

A18: See B. A. Steinbaugh, H. W. Hamilton, W. C. Patt, S. T. Rundalo, B. L. Batley, E. A. Lunney, M. J. Ryan, G H. W. Hicks, Bioorg. Meet. Chem. Lett. 1994, 4, 2023-8.

A19: See synthesis described in Scheme 1. Starting materials such as 1 can be prepared according to: M. L. Bennasar, A. Torrens, M. Rubiralta, J. Bosch, D. S. Grierson, H.-P. Husson, Heterocycles 1989, 29, 745-60.

A20: See synthesis described in Scheme 2. Starting materials such as 8 can be prepared according to: M. Somei, S. Sayama, K. Naka, F. Yamada, Heterocycles 1988, 27, 1585-7. For the Pd-catalyzed cyclization of N-substituted 3-bromo-indoles see: H. Zhang, R. C. Larock, J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 7048-56; ibid, Org. Lett. 2002, 4, 3035-38.

A21: See synthesis described in Scheme 3.

Building blocks A22 through A66 and their preparation have been described previously, as indicated in the following table:

Preparation, including starting and pre-starting materials as described in Building block International Application as mentioned PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, herein published as WO 02/070547 A22 A58 A23 A59 A24 A60 A25 A61 A26 A62 A27 A63 A28 A64 A29 A65 A30 A66 A31 A67 A32 A68 A33 A69 A34 A70 A35 A71 A36 A72 A37 A73 A38 A74 A39 A75 A40 A76 A41 A77 A42 A78 A43 A79 A44 A80 A45 A81 A46 A82 A47 A83 A48 A84 A49 A85 A50 A86 A51 A87 A52 A88 A53 A89 A54 A90 A55 A91 A56 A92 A57 A93 A58 A94 A59 A95 A60 A96 A61 A97 A62 A98 A63 A99 A64 A100 A65 A101 A66 A102

A67: Compounds of this type can be prepared starting from the corresponding 4-hydroxy-β-tetralones and subsequent oxidation of the alcohol with e.g. MnO₂ according to general method described in International Application PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 (Scheme 28)

A68: Compounds of this type can be prepared starting from the corresponding N-substituted tetrahydroquinoline-3-ones according to general method described in International Application PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 (Scheme 28).

A69: See C. J. Blankley, J. S. Kaltenbronn, D. E. DeJohn, A. Werner, L. R. Bennett, G. Bobowski, U. Krolls, D. R. Johnson, W. M. Pearlman, M. L. Hoefle, A. D. Essenburg, D. M. Cohen, H. R. Kaplan, J. Med. Chem. 1987, 30, 992-8. See Beilstein Registry Number 6054327.

A70: The preparation of these starting and pre-starting materials are described in International Application PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 (A5).

A71: The preparation of these starting and pre-starting materials are described in International Application PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 (A8).

Templates of type (b1): The preparation of these starting and pre-starting materials are described in International Application PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 (b1).

Templates of type (b2): The preparation of these starting and pre-starting materials are described in International Application PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 (b2).

Templates of type (c1): The preparation of these starting and pre-starting materials are described in International Application PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 (c1).

Templates of type (c2): The preparation of these starting and pre-starting materials are described in International Application PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 (c2).

Templates of type (c3): The preparation of these starting and pre-starting materials are described in International Application PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 (c3).

Templates (d1) can be prepared according to: J. E. Baldwin, R. T. Freedman, Ch. Lowe, Ch. Schofield, E. Lee, Tetrahedron, 1989, 45, 4537-4550; M. Angiolini, S Araneo, L. Belvisi, E. Cesarotti, A. Checca, L. Crippa, L. Manzoni, C. Scolastico, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2000, 2571-2581; M. Shimizu, H. Nemoto, H. Kakuda, H. Takahata, Heterocycles, 2003, 59, 245-255; D. S. Karanewsky, X. Bai, S. T. Linton, J. F. Krebs, J. Wu, B. Pham, K. J. Tomaselli, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1998, 8, 2557-2762.

Templates (d2) can be prepared according to: C. Xiong, J. Zhang, P. Davies, W. Wang, J. Ying, F. Porreca, V. J. Hruby, J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 2003, 1598-99; J. E. Baldwin, R. T. Freedman, Ch. Lowe, Ch. Schofield, E. Lee, Tetrahedron, 1989, 45, 4537-4550; P. W. Baures, W. H. Ojala, W. J. Costain, M. C. Ott, A. Pradhan, W. B. Gleason, R. K. Mishra, R. L. Johnson, J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 3594-3600; D. S. Karanewsky, X. Bai, S. T. Linton, J. F. Krebs, J. Wu, B. Pham, K. J. Tomaselli, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1998, 8, 2557-2762; Templates of type (d3) can be prepared according to: W. Quin, X. Gu, V. A. Soloshonok, M. D. Garduzzi, V. Hrubi, Tetrahedron Lett. 2001, 42, 145-148.

Templates (e1) and (e2): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-150; R. Mueller, L. Revesz, Tetrahedron Lett. 1994, 35, 4091; H.-G. Lubell, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 1996, 61, 9437; L. Colombo, M. DiGiacomo, G. Papeo, O. Carugo, C. Scolastico, L. Manzoni, Tetrahedron Lett. 1994, 35, 4031.

Templates (e3): See Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-150; S. Hanessian, B. Ronan, A. Laoui, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1994, 4, 1397; M. Angiolini, S. Araneo, L. Belvisi, E. Cesarotti, A. Checca, L. Crippa, L. Manzoni, C. Scolastico, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2000, 2571-2581; L. Belvisi, A. Caporale, M. Colombo, L. Manzoni, D. Potenza, C. Scolastico, M. Castorina, M. Cati, G. Giannini, C. Pisano, Helv. Chim. Acta 2002, 85, 4353-4368; F. Gosselin, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 2163-2171; M. Shimizu, H. Nemoto, H. Kakuda, H. Takahata, Heterocycles, 2003, 59, 245-255; F. Gosselin, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 7463-71; F. Gosselin, D. Tourvé, M. Ceusters, T. Meert, L. Heylen, M. Jurzak, W. D. Lubell, J. Pept. Chem. 2001, 57, 337-44; L. Halab, J. A. J. Becker, Z. Darula, D. Tourvé, B. L. Kieffer, F. Simonin, W. D. Lubell, J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 5353-5357; R. Liu, D. L.-Y. Dong, R. Sherlock, H. P. Nestler, C. Cennari, A. Mielgo, C. Scoslastico, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1999, 9, 847-852; A. Salimbeni, F. Peleari, R. Canevolti, M. Criscuoli, A. Lippi, M. Angiolini, L. Belvisi, C. Scolastico, L. Colombo, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1997, 7, 2205-2210; F. Gosselin, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 2001, 66, 1181-1185.

Templates (e4) see: S. Hanessian, G. McNaughton-Smith, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1996, 6, 1567; F. Polyak, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 2001, 66, 1171-1180; F. Polyak, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 5937-5949.

Templates (e5) see: Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-150; R. St. Charles, J. H. Matthews, E. Zhang, A. Tulinsky, J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 1376-83; W. Wang, J. Yang, J. Ying, J. Zhang, Ch. Cai, V. J. Hrubi, J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 6352-60.

Templates (e6) see: Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-150; F. Gosselin, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 2163-2171; F. Polyak, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 5937-5949.

Templates (e7) see: J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-150; F. Polyak, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 5937-5949; W. Wang, J. Yang, J. Ying, J. Zhang, Ch. Cai, V. J. Hrubi, J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 6352-60; E. Artale, G. Banfi, L. Belvisi, L. Colombo, M. Colombo, L. Manzoni, C. Scolastico, Tetrahedron 2003, 59, 6241-6250; Z. Feng, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 2001, 66, 1181-1185.

Templates (e8) and (e9): J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-150; R. St. Charles, J. H. Matthews, E. Zhang, A. Tulinsky, J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 1376-83;

Templates (e10) see: J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; F. Gosselin, D. Tourvé, M. Ceusters, T. Meert, L. Heylen, M. Jurzak, W. D. Lubell, J. Pept. Chem. 2001, 57, 337-44; L. Halab, J. A. J. Becker, Z. Darula, D. Tourvé, B. L. Kieffer, F. Simonin, W. D. Lubell, J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 5353-5357; U. Nagai, K. Sato, Tetrahedron Lett. 1985, 26, 647-650; J. A. J. Becker, A. Wallau, A. Garzon, P. Ingallinella, E. Bianchi, R. Cortese, F. Simonin, B. L. Kieffer, A. Pessi, J. Biol. Chem. 1999, 274, 27513-22; J. Wagner, J. Kallen, C. Eberhardt, J.-P. Evenou, D. Wagner, J. Med. Chem. 1998, 41, 3664-74; R. E. Dolle, C. V. C. Prasad, C. P. Prouty, J. M. Salvino, M. M. A. Awad, St. J. Smith, D. Hoyer, T. M. Ross, T. L. Graybill, G. J. Speiser, J. Uhl, B. E. Miller, C. T. Helaszek, M. A. Ator, J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 1941-46; F. Weisskirchen, P. M. Doyle, S. L. Gough, C. J. Harris, I. Marshall, Brit. J. Pharmacol. 1999, 126, 1163-70.

Template (e11): The preparation of these starting and pre-starting materials are described in International Application PCT/EP02/01711 of the same applicants, published as WO 02/070547 A1 (m).

Templates (e12): See U. Slomcynska, D. K. Chalmers, F. Cornille, M. L. Smythe, D. D. Benson, K. D. Moeller, G. R. Marshall, J. Org. Chem. 1996, 61, 1198-1204; F. Gosselin, D. Tourvé, M. Ceusters, T. Meert, L. Heylen, M. Jurzak, W. D. Lubell, J. Pept. Chem. 2001, 57, 337-44.

Templates (e13): See D. Gramberg, C. Weber, R. Beeli, J. Inglis, C. Bruns, J. A. Robinson, Helv. Chem. Acta 1995, 78, 1588-1606; K. H. Kim, J. P. Dumas, J. P. Germanas, J. Org. Chem. 1996, 61, 3138-3144.

Templates (f): J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; F. Gosselin, D. Tourvé, M. Ceusters, T. Meert, L. Heylen, M. Jurzak, W. D. Lubell, J. Pept. Chem. 2001, 57, 337-44; L. Halab, J. A. J. Becker, Z. Darula, D. Tourvé, B. L. Kieffer, F. Simonin, W. D. Lubell, J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 5353-5357; F. Gosselin, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 7463-71.

Templates (g1-g4): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; F. Gosselin, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 2163-2171; M. Mizutani, W.-H. Chiou, I. Ojima, Org. Lett. 2002, 4, 4575-78.

Templates (h1): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; M. Angiolini, S. Araneo, L. Belvisi, E. Cesarotti, A. Checca, L. Crippa, L. Manzoni, C. Scolastico, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2000, 2571-2581; L. Colombo, M. Di Giacomo, V. Vinci, M. Colombo, L. Manzoni, C. Scolastico, Tetrahedron 2003, 59, 4353-68; F. Gosselin, W. D. Lubell, J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 2163-2171; R. Liu, D. L.-Y. Dong, R. Sherlock, H. P. Nestler, C. Cennari, A. Mielgo, C. Scoslastico, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1999, 9, 847-852; E. Artale, G. Banfi, L. Belvisi, L. Colombo, M. Colombo, L. Manzoni, C. Scolastico, Tetrahedron 2003, 59, 6241-6250.

Templates (h2): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; D. S. Karanewsky, X. Bai, S. T. Linton, J. F. Krebs, J. Wu, B. Pham, K. J. Tomaselli, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1998, 8, 2557-2762.

Templates (h3): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; T. P. Curran, P. M. McEnay, Tetrahedron Lett. 1995, 36, 191-194.

Templates (i): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; M. R. Attwood, C. H. Hassal, A. Kröhn, G. Lawton, S. Redshaw, J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1, 1986, 1011-19; R. E. Dolle, C. V. C. Prasad, C. P. Prouty, J. M. Salvino, M. M. A. Awad, St. J. Smith, D. Hoyer, T. M. Ross, T. L. Graybill, G. J. Speiser, J. Uhl, B. E. Miller, C. T. Helaszek, M. A. Ator, J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 1941-46; F. Weisskirchen, P. M. Doyle, S. L. Gough, C. J. Harris, I. Marshall, Brit. J. Pharmacol. 1999, 126, 1163-70.

Templates (k): D. Tourvéet al. Biopolymers 1996, 38, 1-12; commercially available (NeoMPS FB 04901).

Templates (l1): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; J. A. Robl, L. M. Simpkins, J. Stevenson, Ch.-Q. Sun, N. Marugesan, J. C. Banish, M. M. Asaad; J. E. Bird, T. R. Schaeffer, N. C. Trippodo, E. W. Petrillo, D. S. Karanewsky, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1994, 4, 1789-94; R. E. Dolle, C. V. C. Prasad, C. P. Prouty, J. M. Salvino, M. M. A. Awad, St. J. Smith, D. Hoyer, T. M. Ross, T. L. Graybill, G. J. Speiser, J. Uhl, B. E. Miller, C. T. Helaszek, M. A. Ator, J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 1941-46; for R¹¹═R²²═H; commercially available (NeoMPS FB05001).

Templates (l2): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; J. A. Robl, L. M. Simpkins, J. Stevenson, Ch.-Q. Sun, N. Marugesan, J. C. Barrish, M. M. Asaad; J. E. Bird, T. R. Schaeffer, N.C. Trippodo, E. W. Petrillo, D. S. Karanewsky, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1994, 4, 1789-94; M. Amblard et al. J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 4185; for R¹¹═R²²═H; commercially available (NeoMPS FB04801).

Templates (l3-l4): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; J. A. J. Becker, A. Wallau, A. Garzon, P. Ingallinella, E. Bianchi, R. Cortese, F. Simonin, B. L. Kieffer, A. Pessi, J. Biol. Chem. 1999, 274, 27513-22; L. Halab, J. A. J. Becker, Z. Darula, D. Tourvé, B. L. Kieffer, F. Simonin, W. D. Lubell, J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 5353-5357; (13) for R¹¹═R²²═H; commercially available (NeoMPS FB02401).

Templates (m): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers, 2005, 80, 98-15; J. A. J. Becker, A. Wallau, A. Garzon, P. Ingallinella, E. Bianchi, R. Cortese, F. Simonin, B L Kieffer, A. Pessi, J. Biol. Chem. 1999, 274, 27513-22.

Templates (n): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; P. Ward, G. B. Evan, C. C. Jordan, S. J. Ireland, R. M. Hagan, J. R. Brown, J. Med. Chem. 1990, 33, 1848-51.

Templates (o): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; S. de Lombart, L. Blanchard, L. B. Stamford, D. M. Sperbeck, M. D. Grim, T. M. Jenson, H. R. Rodriguez, Tetrahedron Lett. 1994, 35, 7513-7516; F. Weisskirchen, P. M. Doyle, S. L. Gough, C. J. Harris, I. Marshall, Brit. J. Pharmacol. 1999, 126, 1163-70; J. A. J. Becker, A. Wallau, A. Garzon, P. Ingallinella, E. Bianchi, R. Cortese, F. Simonin, B. L. Kieffer, A. Pessi, J. Biol. Chem. 1999, 274, 27513-22; L. Halab, J. A. J. Becker, Z. Darula, D. Tourvé, B. L. Kieffer, F. Simonin, W. D. Lubell, J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 5353-5357.

Templates (p1-p4): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; J. A. Robl, D. S. Karanewski, M. M. Asaad, Tetrahedron Lett. 1995, 5, 773-758; T. P. Burkholder, T.-B. Le, E. L. Giroux, G. A. Flynn, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1992, 2, 579; L. M. Simpkins, J. A. Robl, M. P. Cimarusti, D. E. Ryono, J. Stevenson, C.-Q. Sun, E. W. Petrillo, D. S. Karanewski, M. M. Asaad, J. E. Bird, T. R. Schaeffer, N.C. Trippodo, Abstracts of papers, 210^(th) Am. Chem. Soc Meeting, Chicago, Ill., MEDI 064 (1995).

Templates (q): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; D. Benlshai, A. R. McMurray, Tetrahedron 1993, 49, 6399.

Templates (r): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; F. Esser, A. Carpy, H. Briem, H. Köppen, K.-H. Pook, Int. J. Pept. Res. 1995, 45, 540-546.

Templates (s): See J. Cluzeau, W. D. Lubell, Biopolymers 2005, 80, 98-15; N. De la Figuera, I. Alkorta, T. Garcia-Lopez, R. Herranz, R. Gonzalez-Muniz, Tetrahedron 1995, 51, 7841.

The β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention can be used in a wide range of applications in order to agonize or to antagonize GPCR receptors.

They can be used, for example, for treating or preventing cardiovascular disorders, dermatological disorders, endocrine system and hormone disorders, metabolic diseases, inflammatory diseases, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases, haematological diseases and cancer.

For use as medicaments the β-hairpin peptidomimetics can be administered singly, as mixtures of several β-hairpin peptidomimetics or in combination with other pharmaceutically active agents. The β-hairpin peptidomimetics may be administered per se or may be applied as an appropriate formulation together with carriers, diluents or excipients well known in the art.

Pharmaceutical compositions comprising β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention may be manufactured by means of conventional mixing, dissolving, granulating, coated tablet-making, levigating, emulsifying, encapsulating, entrapping or lyophilizing processes. Pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated in conventional manner using one or more physiologically acceptable carriers, diluents, excipients or auxiliaries which facilitate processing of the active β-hairpin peptidomimetics into preparations which can be used pharmaceutically. Proper formulation depends upon the method of administration chosen.

For topical administration the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention may be formulated as solutions, gels, ointments, creams, suspensions, etc. as are well-known in the art.

Systemic formulations include those designed for administration by injection, e.g. subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intrathecal or intraperitoneal injection, as well as those designed for transdermal, transmucosal, oral or pulmonary administration.

For injections, the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention may be formulated in adequate solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers such as Hink's solution, Ringer's solution, or physiological saline buffer. The solution may contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents. Alternatively, the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention may be in powder form for combination with a suitable vehicle, e.g., sterile pyrogen-free water, before use.

For transmucosal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation as known in the art.

For oral administration, the compounds can be readily formulated by combining the active β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers well known in the art. Such carriers enable the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention to be formulated as tablets, pills, dragees, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries, suspensions etc., for oral ingestion of a patient to be treated. For oral formulations such as, for example, powders, capsules and tablets, suitable excipients include fillers such as sugars, such as lactose, sucrose, mannitol and sorbitol; cellulose preparations such as maize starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, gelatin, gum tragacanth, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); granulating agents; and binding agents. If desired, desintegrating agents may be added, such as cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidones, agar, or alginic acid or a salt thereof, such as sodium alginate. If desired, solid dosage forms may be sugar-coated or enteric-coated using standard techniques.

For oral liquid preparations such as, for example, suspensions, elixirs and solutions, suitable carriers, excipients or diluents include water, glycols, oils, alcohols, etc. In addition, flavoring agents, preservatives, coloring agents and the like may be added.

For buccal administration, the composition may take the form of tablets, lozenges, etc. formulated as usual.

For administration by inhalation, the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention are conveniently delivered in form of an aeorosol spray from pressurized packs or a nebulizer, with the use of a suitable propellant, e.g. dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, carbon dioxide or another suitable gas. In the case of a pressurized aerosol the dose unit may be determined by providing a valve to deliver a metered amount. Capsules and cartridges of e.g. gelatin for use in an inhaler or insufflator may be formulated containing a powder mix of the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention and a suitable powder base such as lactose or starch.

The compounds may also be formulated in rectal or vaginal compositions such as suppositories together with appropriate suppository bases such as cocoa butter or other glycerides.

In addition to the formulations described previously, the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention may also be formulated as depot preparations. Such long acting formulations may be administered by implantation (e.g. subcutaneously or intramuscularly) or by intramuscular injection. For the manufacture of such depot preparations the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention may be formulated with suitable polymeric or hydrophobic materials (e.g. as an emulsion in an acceptable oil) or ion exchange resins, or as sparingly soluble salts.

In addition, other pharmaceutical delivery systems may be employed such as liposomes and emulsions well known in the art. Certain organic solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide also may be employed. Additionally, the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention may be delivered using a sustained-release system, such as semipermeable matrices of solid polymers containing the therapeutic agent. Various sustained-release materials have been established and are well known by those skilled in the art. Sustained-release capsules may, depending on their chemical nature, release the compounds for a few weeks up to over 100 days. Depending on the chemical nature and the biological stability of the therapeutic agent, additional strategies for protein stabilization may be employed.

As the β-hairpin pepdidomimetics of the invention may contain charged residues, they may be included in any of the above-described formulations as such or as pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts tend to be more soluble in aqueous and other protic solvents than are the corresponding free base forms.

The β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention, or compositions thereof, will generally be used in an amount effective to achieve the intended purpose. It is to be understood that the amount used will depend on a particular application.

For use to treating or preventing cardiovascular disorders, dermatological disorders, endocrine system and hormone disorders, metabolic diseases, inflammatory diseases, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases, haematological diseases and cancer, the β-hairpin pepidomimetics of the invention, or compositions thereof, are administered or applied in a therapeutically effective amount. By therapeutically effective amount is meant an amount effective in ameliorating the symptoms of, or in ameliorating, treating or preventing microbial infections or diseases related thereto. Determination of a therapeutically effective amount is well within the capacities of those skilled in the art, especially in view of the detailed disclosure provided herein.

For systemic administration, a therapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially from in vitro assays. For example, a dose can be formulated in animal models to achieve a circulating β-hairpin peptidomimetic concentration range that includes the IC₅₀ as determined in the cell culture (i.e. the concentration of a test compound that is lethal to 50% of a cell culture), the MIC, as determined in cell culture (i.e. the concentration of a test compound that is lethal to 100% of a cell culture). Such information can be used to more accurately determine useful doses in humans.

Initial dosages can also be determined from in vivo data, e.g. animal models, using techniques that are well known in the art. One having ordinary skills in the art could readily optimize administration to humans based on animal data.

Dosage amount for applications as antimicrobial agents may be adjusted individually to provide plasma levels of the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention which are sufficient to maintain the therapeutic effect. Therapeutically effective serum levels may be achieved by administering multiple doses each day.

In cases of local administration or selective uptake, the effective local concentration of the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention may not be related to plasma concentration. One having the skills in the art will be able to optimize therapeutically effective local dosages without undue experimentation.

The amount of β-hairpin peptidomimetics administered will, of course, be dependent on the subject being treated, on the subject's weight, the severity of the affliction, the manner of administration and the judgement of the prescribing physician.

Normally, a therapeutically effective dose of the β-hairpin peptidomimetics described herein will provide therapeutic benefit without causing substantial toxicity.

Toxicity of the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention herein can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., by determining the LD₅₀ (the dose lethal to 50% of the population) or the LD₁₀₀ (the dose lethal to 100% of the population). The dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effect is the therapeutic index. Compounds which exhibit high therapeutic indices are preferred. The data obtained from these cell culture assays and animal studies can be used in formulating a dosage range that is not toxic for use in humans. The dosage of the β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the invention lies preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the effective dose with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within the range depending upon the dosage form employed and the route of administration utilized. The exact formulation, route of administration and dose can be chosen by the individual physician in view of the patient's condition (see, e.g. Fingl et al. 1975, In: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Ch. 1, p. 1).

The following Examples illustrate the invention in more detail but are not intended to limit its scope in any way. The following abbreviations are used in these Examples:

-   -   HBTU: 1-benzotriazol-1-yl-tetramethylurounium         hexafluorophosphate (Knorr et al. Tetrahedron Lett. 1989, 30,         1927-1930);     -   HCTU: 1-Benzotriazol         1-[bis(dimethylamino)methylene]-5chloro-hexafluorophosphate-(1-),3-oxide     -   HOBt: 1-hydroxybenzotriazole;     -   DIEA: diisopropylethylamine;     -   HOAT: 7-aza-1-hydroxybenzotriazole;     -   HATU: O-(7-aza-benzotriazole-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronoium         hexafluorophosphate (Carpino et al. Tetrahedron Lett. 1994, 35,         2279-2281).

EXAMPLES 1. Peptide Synthesis

Coupling of the First Protected Amino Acid Residue to the Resin

0.5 g of 2-chlorotritylchloride resin (Barlos et al. Tetrahedron Lett. 1989, 30, 3943-3946) (1.4 mMol/g, 0.7 mmol) was filled into a dried flask. The resin was suspended in CH₂Cl₂ (2.5 ml) and allowed to swell at room temperature under constant stirring for 30 min. The resin was treated with 0.49 mMol (0.7 eq) of the first suitably protected amino acid residue or building block (see below) and 488 μl (4 eq) of diisopropylethylamine (DIEA) in CH₂Cl₂ (2.5 ml), the mixture was shaken at 25° C. for 4 hours. The resin was shaken (CH₂Cl₂/MeOH/DIEA: 17/2/1), 30 ml for 30 min; then washed in the following order with CH₂Cl₂ (1×), DMF (1×), CH₂Cl₂ (1×), MeOH (1×), CH₂Cl₂(1×), MeOH (1×), CH₂Cl₂ (2×), Et₂O (2×) and dried under vacuum for 6 hours.

Loading was typically 0.6-0.9 mMol/g.

The following preloaded resins were prepared: Fmoc-Tic-2-chlorotritylresin, Fmoc-Azt-2-chlorotritylresin, Fmoc-b1-x¹-2-chlorotritylresin, Fmoc-c1-x²-2-chlorotritylresin, ¹ b1-x is (2S,6S,9S)-6-amino-2-carboxymethyl-3,8-diazabicyclo-[4,3,0]-nonane-1,4-dione² c1-X is 5-aminomethyl-3,6-dimethoxy-9,9-dimethyl-9H-xanthen-4-yl-acetic acid

Synthesis of the Fully Protected Peptide Fragment

The synthesis was carried out on a Syro-peptide synthesizer (MultiSynTech GmbH) using 24 to 96 reaction vessels. In each vessel were placed approximately 60 mg (weight of the resin before loading) of the above resin. The following reaction cycles were programmed and carried out:

Step Reagent Time 1 CH₂Cl₂, wash and swell (manual) 1 × 3 min. 2 DMF, wash and swell 1 × 60 min 3 40% piperidine/DMF 2 × 5 min. 4 DMF, wash 5 × 1 min. 5 5 equiv. Fmoc amino acid/DMF +5 eq. HCTU +10 eq. DIEA 2 × 60 min. 6 DMF, wash 5 × 1 min. 7 40% piperidine/DMF 2 × 5 min. 8 DMF, wash 5 × 1 min. 9 CH₂Cl₂, wash 3 × 1 min. (at the end of the synthesis)

Steps 3 to 6 are repeated to add each amino-acid.

After the synthesis of the fully protected peptide fragment had been terminated, the cleavage, cyclization and work up procedure as described hereinbelow, was used for the preparation of the peptides.

Analytical Method A:

Analytical HPLC retention times (RT, in minutes) were determined using an Jupiter Proteo 90A, 150×2.0 mm, (cod. 00F4396-B0—Phenomenex) with the following solvents A (H₂O+0.1% TFA) and B (CH₃CN+0.1% TFA) and the gradient: 0-0.5 min: 95% A, 5% B; 15 min 40% A 60% B; 15.05-21.0 min: 0% A, 100% B; 21.1-30 95% A, 5% B.

Analytical Method B:

Analytical HPLC retention times (RT, in minutes) were determined using an Jupiter Proteo 90A, 50×2.0 mm, (cod. 00B-4396-B0-Phenomenex) with the following solvents A (H₂O+0.1% TFA) and B (CH₃CN+0.1% TFA) and the gradient: 0-0.5 min: 95% A, 5% B; 20 min: 40% A 60% B; 20.5-27 min: 0% A, 100% B; 27.1-40 min: 95% A, 5% B.

Analytical Method C:

Analytical HPLC retention times (RT, in minutes) were determined using an ACQUITY HPLC™ BEH C18 2.1×100 mm 1.7 μm (cod. 186002352—WATERS) with the following solvents A (H₂O+0.1% TFA) and B (CH₃CN/H₂O 95/5+0.085% TFA) and the gradient: 0-0.2 mini: 95% A, 5% B; 4 min: 35% A 65% B; 4.2 min: 5% A, 95% B; 4.25 min: 95% A, 5% B.

Analytical Method D:

Analytical HPLC retention times (RT, in minutes) were determined using an Jupiter Proteo 90A, 50×2.0 mm, (cod. 00B-4396-B0-Phenomenex) with the following solvents A (H₂O+0.1% TFA) and B (CH₃CN+0.1% TFA) and the gradient: 0-0.5 min: 95% A, 5% B; 10 min: 40% A 60% B; 10.05-15.0 min: 0% A, 100% B; 15.1-20 min: 95% A, 5% B.

Cleavage, Backbone Cyclization, Deprotection and Purification of the Peptide

After assembly of linear peptide, the resin was suspended in 1 ml (0.14 mMol) of 1% TFA in CH₂Cl₂ (v/v) for 3 minutes and filtered, and the filtrate was neutralized with 1 ml (1.15 mMol) of 20% DIEA in CH₂Cl₂ (v/v). This procedure was repeated twice to ensure completion of the cleavage. The resin was washed three times with 1 ml of CH₂Cl₂. The CH₂Cl₂ layer was evaporated to dryness.

The fully protected linear peptide was solubilised in 8 ml of dry DMF. Then 2 eq. of HATU in dry DMF (1 ml) and 4 eq. of DIEA in dry DMF (1 ml) were added to the peptide, followed by stirring for 16 h. The volatiles were evaporated to dryness. The crude cyclic peptide was dissolved in 7 ml of CH₂Cl₂ and extracted with 10% acetonitrile in water (4.5 ml), three times. The CH₂Cl₂ layer was evaporated to dryness. To fully deprotect the peptide, 4 ml of cleavage cocktail TFA:TIS:H₂O (95:2.5:2.5) were added, and the mixture was stirred for 4 h at room temperature. The volatile was evaporated to dryness and the crude peptide was dissolved in 20% AcOH in water (7 ml) and extracted with diisopropyl ether (4 ml) for three times. The aqueous layer was collected and evaporated to dryness, and the residue was purified by preparative reverse phase LC-MS.

After lyophilisation the products were obtained as white powders and analysed by HPLC-ESI-MS methods as described above. Analytical data after preparative HPLC purification are shown in Table 1.

Examples 1-3, 17-19, are shown in Table I. The peptides were synthesized starting with the amino acid L-Tic which was grafted to the resin. Starting resin was Fmoc-Tic-2-chlorotrityl resin, which was prepared as described above. The linear peptides were synthesized on solid support according to the procedure described above in the following sequence: Resin-Tic-^(D)Pro-P4-P3-P2-P1. The products were cleaved from the resin, cyclized, deprotected and purified as indicated by preparative reverse phase LC-MS.

After lyophilisation the products were obtained as white powders and analysed by HPLC-ESI-MS method A as described above for 1-3, method C as described above for 17 and 18 and method D as described above for 19.

HPLC-retention times (minutes) were determined using the analytical method as described above.

Examples 4-7 are also shown in Table 1. The peptides were synthesized starting with the amino acid L-Azt which was grafted to the resin. Starting resin was Fmoc-Azt-2-chlorotrityl resin, which was prepared as described above. The linear peptides were synthesized on solid support according to the procedure described above in the following sequence: Resin-Azt-^(D)Pro-P4-P3-P2-P1. The products were cleaved from the resin, cyclized, deprotected and purified as indicated by preparative reverse phase LC-MS.

After lyophilisation the products were obtained as white powders and analysed by HPLC-ESI-MS method A as described above.

HPLC-retention times (minutes) were determined using the analytical method as described above.

Examples 8-13, are likewise shown in Table 1. The peptides were synthesized starting with the template c1-x which was grafted to the resin. Starting resin was Fmoc-c1-x-2-chlorotrityl resin, which was prepared as described above. The linear peptides were synthesized on solid support according to the procedure described above in the following sequence: Resin-c1-x-P4-P3-P2-P1. The products were cleaved from the resin, cyclized, deprotected and purified as indicated by preparative reverse phase LC-MS.

After lyophilisation the products were obtained as white powders and analysed by HPLC-ESI-MS method A as described above.

HPLC-retention times (minutes) were determined using the analytical method as described above.

Examples 14, is shown in Table 1, too. The peptide was synthesized starting with the template b1-x which was grafted to the resin. Starting resin was Fmoc-b1-x-2-chlorotrityl resin, which was prepared as described above. The linear peptide was synthesized on solid support according to the procedure described above in the following sequence: Resin-b1-x-P4-P3-P2-P1. The product was cleaved from the resin, cyclized, deprotected and purified as indicated by preparative reverse phase LC-MS.

After lyophilisation the product was obtained as white powder and analysed by HPLC-ESI-MS method A as described above.

HPLC-retention time (minutes) was determined using the analytical method as described above.

Examples 15-16, finally, are also shown in Table 1. The peptides were synthesized starting with the amino acid L-Azt which was grafted to the resin. Starting resin was Fmoc-Azt-2-chlorotrityl resin, which was prepared as described above. The linear peptides were synthesized on solid support according to the procedure described above in the following sequence: Resin-Azt-^(D)Pro-P4-P3-P2-P1. The products were cleaved from the resin, cyclized, deprotected and purified as indicated by preparative reverse phase LC-MS.

After lyophilisation the products were obtained as white powders and analysed by HPLC-ESI-MS method B as described above.

HPLC-retention times (minutes) were determined using the analytical method as described above.

TABLE 1 Examples Example Sequ. ID P1 P2 P3 P4 Template Purity %^(a)) [M + H] RT 1 SEQ ID NO: 1 Phe Trp Lys Tyr ^(D)Pro^(L)Tic 95 881.2 12.63 2 SEQ ID NO: 2 Ile Trp Lys Tyr ^(D)Pro^(L)Tic 92 847.2 12.48 3 SEQ ID NO: 3 Gln Trp Lys Tyr ^(D)Pro^(L)Tic 91 862.2 9.59 4 SEQ ID NO: 4 Phe Trp Lys Tyr ^(D)Pro^(L)Azt 95 805.2 10.68 5 SEQ ID NO: 5 Ile Trp Lys Tyr ^(D)Pro^(L)Azt 92 771.4 10.49 6 SEQ ID NO: 6 Gln Trp Lys Tyr ^(D)Pro^(L)Azt 88 786.2 7.67 7 SEQ ID NO: 7 Thr Trp Lys Tyr ^(D)Pro^(L)Azt 89 759.2 8.21 8 SEQ ID NO: 8 Phe Trp Lys Tyr c1-x 92 964.2 14.41 9 SEQ ID NO: 9 Thr Trp Lys Tyr c1-x 92 918.3 12.97 10 SEQ ID NO: 10 Gln Trp Lys Tyr c1-x 95 945.1 12.01 11 SEQ ID NO: 11 Ile Trp Lys Tyr c1-x 95 930.2 14.18 12 SEQ ID NO: 12 Trp Lys Tyr His c1-x 95 954.5 11.64 13 SEQ ID NO: 13 Glu Trp Lys Tyr c1-x 92 946.2 12.39 14 SEQ ID NO: 14 Ile Trp Lys Tyr b1-x 84 800.6 10.84 15 SEQ ID NO: 15 Tyr Trp Arg Gly ^(D)Pro^(L)Azt 95 742.8 9.17 16 SEQ ID NO: 16 Tyr Trp Arg Ala ^(D)Pro^(L)Azt 93 756.8 10.10 17 SEQ ID NO: 17 Trp ^(D)Val Trp Orn ^(D)Pro^(L)Tic 95 842.8 3.22 18 SEQ ID NO: 18 Trp ^(D)Val Trp Lys ^(D)Pro^(L)Tic 95 856.8 3.26 19 SEQ ID NO: 19 Ile ^(D)Arg Aib Ile ^(D)Pro^(L)Tic 92 724.2 8.38 ^(a))%-purity of compounds after prep. HPLC. b1-x is (2S,6S,9S)-6-amino-2-carboxymethyl-3,8-diazabicyclo-[4,3,0]-nonane-1,4-dione c1-x is (5-aminomethyl-3,6-dimethoxy-9,9-dimethyl-9H-xanthen-4yl-acetic acid

2. Biological Methods

2.1. Preparation of the Peptide Samples.

Lyophilized peptides were weighed on a Microbalance (Mettler MX5) and dissolved in sterile water to a final concentration of 1 mM less stated otherwise. Stock solutions were kept at +4° C., and protected from light.

2.2. Urotensin

The mouse pre-B cell line 300-19 was stably transfected with the cDNA encoding the human UTR2 receptor (GenBank Acc# NM_(—)018949), and expression was confirmed with a positive calcium signal in response to human urotensin (Sigma Aldrich). Increases in intracellular calcium were monitored using a Flexstation 384 (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.). The cells were batch loaded with the Calcium 3 Assay kit (Molecular Devices) in assay buffer (Hanks Balanced salt solution, HBSS, 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 0.1% BSA) for 1 h at room temperature and labeled cells were dispensed into either black 96 well or 384 well assay plates (Greiner). Calcium mobilization induced by urotensin or compounds was measured in the Flexstation 384 (excitation, 485 nM; emission, 525 nM) for 70 seconds. Agonist activity was determined by direct addition of ligand or peptides, while antagonists were identified by pre-incubation of compounds with cells prior to urotensin addition. A dose response curve (compound concentration versus % maximum response for urotensin) was determined for each active agonist and antagonist and was fitted to a four parameter logistic equation using SoftmaxPro 4.6 (Molecular Devices), from which EC50% and IC50% values were calculated.

2.3. CCR10 and CXCR3

Peptides for CCR10 (Marchese et. al. 1994, Homey et. al.) and CXCR3 (Loetscher et. al. 1998, Marchese et. al. 1995) antagonism were assayed in a mouse pre-B cell line 300-19 stably transfected with either human CCR10 or CXCR3 (Marchese et. al. 1995). Antagonism at each receptor was measured with a calcium flux assay in these cells as described above for UTR2 assays using human CCL27 and human CXCL10 (Cole et. al.) for CCR10 and CXCR3 respectively.

Selectivity was measured using the calcium flux assay on a panel of human chemokine receptor bearing cell lines (CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCRS, CCR6, CCR7, CCR8, CCR9, CCR10, CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR2, CXCR4, CXCR6 and CXCCR1) using the same method as above

3. Results

TABLE 1 Ex. EC50% (nM) ± SD, Urotensin receptor 1  54 ± 12 2  68 ± 32 3  82 ± 13 4 20 ± 5 5  45 ± 22 6 134 ± 61 7 286 ± 66 8 18 ± 3 9 160 ± 81 10 170 ± 40 11 192 ± 14 12 218 13 274 ± 5  14 189 ± 13

TABLE 2 Ex. IC50% (μM) ± SD, Urotensin receptor 19 6.2 ± 1.5

Examples 1-14 were highly selective at 10 μM against the CXCR4 chemokine receptor

TABLE 3 Ex. IC50% (μM) ± SD, CXCR3 receptor 15 IC50% = 8.6 ± 1.9 μM 16 IC50% = 8.1 ± 2.6 μM

Examples 15 and 16 were highly selective at 10 μM against the following chemokine receptors: CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR6, CCR7, CCR8, CCR9, CCR10, CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR2, CXCR4, CXCR6 and CXCCR1.

TABLE 4 Ex. IC50% (μM), CCR10 receptor 17 IC50% = 0.31 μM 18 IC50% = 0.29 μM

REFERENCES

-   1. Cole K E, Strick C A, Paradis T J, Ogborne K T, Loetscher M,     Gladue R P, Lin W, Boyd J G, Moser B, Wood D E, Sahagan B G,     Neote K. J Exp Med. 1998 Jun. 15; 187(12):2009-21. -   1. Marchese, A.; Docherty, J. M.; Nguyen, T.; Heiber, M.; Cheng, R.;     Heng, H. H. Q.; Tsui, L.-C.; Shi, X.; George, S. R.; O'Dowd, B. F.     Genomics 23: 609-618, 1994. -   6. Homey, B.; Wang, W.; Soto, H.; Buchanan, M. E.; Wiesenborn, A.;     Catron, D.; Müller, A.; McClanahan, T. K.; Dieu-Nosjean, M.-C.;     Orozco, R.; Ruzicka, T.; Lehmann, P.; Oldham, E.; Zlotnik, A. J.     Immun. 164: 3465-3470, 2000. -   7. Loetscher, M.; Loetscher, P.; Brass, N.; Meese, E.; Moser, B.     Europ. J. Immun. 28: 3696-3705, 1998. -   8. Marchese, A.; Heiber, M.; Nguyen, T.; Heng, H. H. Q.;     Saldivia, V. R.; Cheng, R.; Murphy, P. M.; Tsui, L.-C.; Shi, X.;     Gregor, P.; George, S. R.; O'Dowd, B. F.; Docherty, J. M. Genomics     29: 335-344, 1995 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A compound of the formula

(i) in which

is either (a) a group of one of the formulae

wherein in formula b1 R¹ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; and R¹⁷ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁴⁸; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(r)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹, wherein the variable defined in R¹ and R¹⁷ are as follows: R¹¹ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; R²³ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁷; (CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²⁴R⁵⁵; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; R²⁴ is H; lower alkyl; aryl, or aryl-lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴, taken together, are —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁵⁷(CH₂)₂—; R⁴⁷ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl-lower alkyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; R⁴⁸ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl-lower alkyl; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(m)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; R⁴⁹ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl lower alkyl; or heteroaryl lower alkyl; R⁵⁰ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aryl-lower alkyl; or heteroaryl-lower alkyl; R⁵¹ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aryl-lower alkyl; or heteroaryl-lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹, taken together, are —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; R⁵² is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; or aryl-lower alkyl; R⁵³ is H, lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aryl-lower alkyl; heteroaryl-lower alkyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; or —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂; R⁵⁴ is lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl, heteroaryl; or aryl-lower alkyl; R⁵⁶ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OR⁵⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)SR⁵⁸; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR²⁴R⁵⁵; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁵³)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; or —(CH₂)_(o)(CHR⁵³)_(s)R⁶⁹; R⁶⁷ is lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷, taken together, are —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; R⁶⁹ is —C₆R⁵⁹R⁶⁰R⁶¹R⁶²R⁶⁸; or a heteroaryl group of one of the formulae

m is 2 to 4; o is 0 to 4; p is 1 to 4; r is 1 or 2; and s is 0 or 1, wherein the variables defined in R²³, R²⁴, R⁴⁷, R⁴⁸, R⁵⁰, R⁵¹, R⁵³, R⁵⁶, R⁶⁷ and R⁶⁹, each of the variables R¹¹, R²³, R²⁴, R⁴⁷, R⁴⁹, R⁵⁰, R⁵¹, R⁵², R⁵³, R⁵⁴, R⁵⁶, R⁶⁷, R⁶⁹, m, o, p and s has a meaning as defined above; R⁵⁵ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aryl-lower alkyl; heteroaryl-lower alkyl; —COR⁵⁶; —COOR⁴⁹; —CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —SO₂R⁵⁴; or —PO(OR⁵²)₂; or R²⁴ and R⁵⁵, taken together, are —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁵⁷(CH₂)₂—; R⁵⁷ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl, aryl-lower alkyl; heteroaryl-lower alkyl; —COR⁵⁶; —COOR⁴⁹; or —CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; R⁵⁸ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; aryl-lower alkyl; heteroaryl-lower alkyl; or —CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; R⁵⁹ is H; Cl; Br; F; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; —NR²⁴COR⁵⁶; lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁶⁰ is H; Cl; Br; F; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; —NR²⁴COR⁵⁶; lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁶¹ is H; Cl; Br; F; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; —NR²⁴COR⁵⁶; lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁶² is H; Cl; Br; F; NO₂; CF₃; CN; OCF₃; OCHF₂; —NR²⁴COR⁵⁶; lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; with the proviso, that at least two of R⁵⁹, R⁶⁰, R⁶¹ and R⁶² are H; R⁶⁸ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl-lower alkyl; —(CH₂)_(o)OR⁶⁴; —(CH₂)_(o)SR⁶⁴; —(CH₂)_(o)NR²³R²⁴; —(CH₂)_(o)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂; —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴; or —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁵⁶; R⁷³ is H; lower alkyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; R⁷⁴ is H; lower alkyl; aryl; heteroaryl; or aryl-lower alkyl; and R⁷⁵ is H; lower alkyl; aryl; or —NR⁷⁰R⁷¹, in which meanings of the variables R⁵⁵, R⁵⁷, R⁵⁸, R⁵⁹, R⁶⁰, R⁶¹, R⁶², R⁶⁸ and R⁷⁵ wherein each of the variables R¹¹, R²³, R²⁴, R⁴⁹, R⁵⁰, R⁵¹, R⁵², R⁵⁴, R⁵⁶, R⁵⁷, R⁶⁷ and o has a meaning as defined above; R⁶⁴ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁸)_(s)OR⁷⁷; or —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁸)_(s)SR⁷⁷; R⁷⁰ is H; lower alkyl; aryl; or aryl-lower alkyl; and R⁷¹ is H; lower alkyl; aryl; or aryl-lower alkyl; or R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹, taken together, are —(CH₂)₂₋₇—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁵⁷(CH₂)₂—, wherein in the variables R⁶⁴, R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹, each of the variables R⁵⁷, p and s has a meaning as defined above; R⁷⁷ is lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; and R⁷⁸ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁷⁷; or —(CH₂)_(p)SR⁷⁷, wherein in the variable R⁷⁸, each of the variables R⁷⁷ and p has a meaning as defined above, wherein in which formulae b1 and c1 R¹¹ is H; or lower alkyl, in which formula b1 R²¹ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); (—CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(r)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy), wherein in the variable R²¹, each of the variables o, p and r has a meaning as defined above, and R²² is H or methyl with the proviso that formula b1 excludes where R¹ is H, R¹¹ is H, R¹⁷ is H, R²² is H and R²¹ is either H or —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ wherein o is 1 and R⁴⁹ is a lower alkyl; and in which formula c1 R²⁵ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(m)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(m)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); (CH₂)_(m)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H; or lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(m)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R⁵⁰: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); or (CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy); R²⁶ is lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl-lower alkyl; or(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy); R²⁷ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H; lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; OCF₃; OCHF₂; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy); and R²⁸ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁴⁷ (where R⁴⁷: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR²³R²⁴ (where R²³: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R²⁴: H; or lower alkyl; or R²³ and R²⁴, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷ (where R⁵⁰: H; lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁶⁷: lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁶⁷, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁰: H; lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹, taken together, are: —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(p)N(R¹¹)COR⁵⁶ (where: R¹¹: H; or lower alkyl; R⁵⁶: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹ (where R⁴⁹: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹ (where R⁵⁰: lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; R⁵¹: H; or lower alkyl; or R⁵⁰ and R⁵¹, taken together, are —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; where R⁴⁹: H; or lower alkyl); —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂ (where R⁵²: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴ (where R⁵⁴: lower alkyl; or lower alkenyl); or —(CH₂)_(q)C₆H₄R³ (where R³: H; F; Cl; CF₃; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or lower alkoxy), wherein in variables R²⁵, R²⁶, R²⁷ and R²⁸, each of the variables m, o, p and q has a meaning as defined above, with the provisor that formula c1 excludes where R²⁵ is a lower alkyl, R²⁶ is a lower alkyl, and R²⁷ is either H or a lower alkyl; or (b) a dipeptide residue made up of two different amino acid building blocks, the dipeptide being selected from the group consisting of ^(D)Pro^(L)Azt and ^(D)Pro^(L)Tic, and Z is a tetrapeptide chain made up of four alpha-amino acid residues, in which the P1 residue is Gly or of type C, D, E or F; the P2 residue is Gly or of type C, D or E; the P3 residue is Gly or of type D or E; and the P4 residue is Gly or of type C, D, E or F, at positions P2 and P3 also D-isomers being possible, the residue of type C being —NR¹¹CH(R⁶⁴)CO—; the residue of type D being —NR¹¹CH(R⁶⁵)CO—; the residue of type E being —NR¹¹CH(R⁶⁶)CO—; and the residue of type F being —NR¹¹CH(R⁷⁶)CO—, wherein in which residues of type C, D, E or F, each of the variables R¹¹ and R⁶⁴ has a meaning as defined above; R⁶⁵ is —(CH₂)_(o)R⁶⁹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(o)R⁶⁹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(o)R⁶⁹; or —(CH₂)_(r)NR¹¹(CH₂)_(o)R⁶⁹; R⁶⁶ is —(CH₂)_(p)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)NR⁶⁹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(p)C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)C(═NNR⁴⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)N═C(NR⁷⁰R⁷²)NR⁷¹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁶⁹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄N═C(NR⁷⁰R⁷²)NR⁷¹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(m)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(m)NR⁶⁹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C(═NOR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(m)NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(m)N═C(NR⁷⁰R⁷²)NR⁷¹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄CNR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)O(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(m)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(m)NR⁶⁹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(m)NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(m)N═C(NR⁷⁰R⁷²)NR⁷¹R⁷²; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄CNR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NOR⁴²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄C(═NNR⁷⁰R⁷¹)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(r)S(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁷²C(═NR⁷²)NR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)NR⁷²COR⁵⁶; or —(CH₂)_(p)NR⁷²COR⁶⁹; and R⁷⁶ is —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁹)_(s)OH; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁹)_(s)CONR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁹)_(s)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁹)_(s)NR⁷²CONR⁷⁰R⁷¹; —(CH₂)_(p)(CHR⁷⁹)_(s)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄CONR⁷⁰R⁷¹; or —(CH₂)_(p)C₆H₄NR⁷²CONR⁷⁰R⁷¹, wherein in the variables R⁶⁶ and R⁷⁶, each of the variables R¹¹, R⁴⁹, R⁵⁶, R⁶⁹, R⁷⁰, R⁷¹, m, o, p, r and s has a meaning as defined above; R⁴² is lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; or aryl-lower alkyl; R⁷² is H; or lower alkyl; R⁶⁹ and R⁷², taken together, are —(CH₂)₂₋₆—; —(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂—; —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂—; or —(CH₂)₂NR⁴⁹(CH₂)₂—; and R⁷⁹ is H; lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aryl-lower alkyl; —(CH₂)_(p)OR⁷⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)OCONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹CONR⁵⁰R⁶⁷; —(CH₂)_(p)NR¹¹COR⁵⁶; —(CH₂)_(o)COOR⁴⁹; —(CH₂)_(o)CONR⁵⁰R⁵¹; —(CH₂)_(o)PO(OR⁵²)₂; or —(CH₂)_(o)SO₂R⁵⁴, wherein in the variables R⁶⁹, R⁷² and R⁷⁹, each of the variables R¹¹, R⁴⁹, R⁵⁰, R⁵¹, R⁵², R⁵⁴, R⁵⁶, R⁶⁷, R⁷⁷, o and p has a meaning as defined above, or (ii) in which

is a dipeptide residue made up of two different amino acid building blocks, the dipeptide being ^(D)Pro^(L)Tic, and Z is a tetrapeptide chain made up of four alpha-amino acid residues, wherein the P1 residue is Ile; the P2 residue is ^(D)Arg; the P3 residue is Aib; and the P4 residue is Ile, in each case in free form or in pharmaceutically acceptable salt form.
 2. A compound according to claim 1 of the formula I, in which, in the tetrapeptide chain Z, the P1 residue is Phe, Ile, Gln, Thr, Trp, Glu or Tyr; the P2 residue is Trp, Lys or ^(D)Val; the P3 residue is Lys, Tyr, Arg or Trp; and the P4 residue is Tyr, H is, Gly, Ala, Orn or Lys.
 3. A compound according to claim 2 of the formula I, in which

is a dipeptide residue made up of two different amino acid building blocks, the dipeptide being ^(D)Pro^(L)Tic, and, in the tetrapeptide chain Z, the P1 residue is Ile; the P2 residue is Trp; the P3 residue is Lys; and the P4 residue is Tyr.
 4. A compound according to claim 2 of the formula I, in which

is a dipeptide residue made up of two different amino acid building blocks, the dipeptide being ^(D)Pro^(L)Azt, and, in the tetrapeptide chain Z, the P1 residue is Tyr; the P2 residue is Trp; the P3 residue is Arg; and the P4 residue is Gly.
 5. A compound according to claim 1 of the formula I in the form of an enantiomer.
 6. A medicament comprising a compound according to claim 1 of the formula I.
 7. A selective G-protein-coupled receptor antagonist or agonist comprising the compound according to claim 1 of the formula I.
 8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to claim 1 of the formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 9. The composition according to claim 8 in a form suitable for oral, topical, transdermal, injection, buccal, transmucosal, pulmonary or inhalation administration.
 10. A composition according to claim 8 in the form of a tablet, a dragee, a capsule, a solution, a liquid, a gel, a plaster, a cream, an ointment, a syrup, a slurry, a suspension, a spray, a nebuliser or a suppository.
 11. A process for the preparation of a compound according to claim 1 of the formula I, which comprises (a) coupling an appropriately functionalized solid support with a compound of the formula II,

in which

has one of the meanings defined in claim 1 and X is an N-protecting group; (b) removing the N-protecting group from the product obtained in step (a); (c) coupling the product thus obtained with an appropriately N-protected derivative of that amino acid, which in the desired end-product is in position 4, any functional group, which may be present in said N-protected amino acid derivative, being likewise appropriately protected; (d) removing the N-protecting group from the product thus obtained; (e) coupling the product thus obtained with an appropriately N-protected derivative of that amino acid, which in the desired end-product is one position farther away from position 4, any functional group, which may be present in said N-protected amino acid derivative, being likewise appropriately protected; (f) removing the N-protecting group from the product thus obtained; (g) repeating steps (e) and (f), until all amino acid residues have been introduced; (h) if desired, selectively deprotecting one or several protected functional group(s) present in the molecule and appropriately substituting the reactive group(s) thus liberated; (i) detaching the product thus obtained from the solid support; (j) cyclizing the product cleaved from the solid support; (k) removing any protecting groups present on functional groups of any amino acid residues in the cyclic product thus obtained and, if desired, any protecting group(s), which may in addition be present in the molecule thus obtained; and (l) if desired, converting a compound of the formula I in free form thus obtained into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or converting a pharmaceutically acceptable, or unacceptable, salt thus obtained into the corresponding compound of the formula I in free form or into a different, pharmaceutically acceptable, salt.
 12. The process according to claim 11, wherein said compound of the formula I is in the form of an enantiomer and wherein said process comprises a chiral starting material in the form of an enantiomer. 